All posts by h79snht.top

It’s amazing really what a little bit of time can do in football. Cast your minds back to last season and Dimitar Berbatov was something of a whipping boy in the stands at Old Trafford. Now though, the Man United striker is the focal point of the attack and pretty much saved his side from an embarrassing defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday night.

United supporters aside, most would deem this type of behaviour towards a footballer as fickle. Those who deemed the Bulgarian surplus to requirements may have been over-reacting, but they certainly had a point to be annoyed.

Berbatov was a direct placement for the outgoing Carlos Tevez. The Argentine represented something of a work-horse, which always goes down well with the home fans. Berbatov has never really had that in his locker, and was ultimately labelled ‘lazy’.

What was most infuriating for the fans though was that they never saw enough of his unquestionable quality. He’s one of the most technically gifted players to be playing the game but last season in particular, he rarely showed it.

United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that the reason his £30 million striker is now finally starting to show his worth is because Berbatov himself and his team-mates are starting to realise just how good he is. If we were being pedantic, his one fault this season is that he becomes overly frustrated with his colleagues because they’re not capable of matching his ability.

I could also offer another reason why he is now producing the quality which made Fergie spend so lavishly on him. Berbatov was always the star-man at Tottenham. He was their main attacking threat and played like a man determined to carry the weight of his team. He then joined United, who at the time already had Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Is it just a coincidence that Berba’s form comes at a time when United had lost two of those stars and the third is lost looking for form? Ferguson would have recognised that his attack was depleted compared to that of the Champions League winning 2009 season. It was time for the big Bulgarian to step up, and I would put good money on the manager telling him so.

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The player himself as suggested that the best is yet to come, so United fans will be hoping that the likes of Rooney will let him have the limelight for a little bit longer. Was he too expensive? Is he lazy? Maybe so, but his contribution this season has elevated him from the United boo-boy to the Stretford End hero whose name is now sung along with past greats such as George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo. What’s that United fans? Give it to Berba? Oh how times have changed indeed…

Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has committed his immediate future to Serie A club Napoli after signing a one-year contract extension.Cavani, 24, starred in Uruguay’s run to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals in South Africa.

This season he has helped Napoli to third place in Serie A and Champions League qualification, with his performances reportedly attracting interest from several European giants.

But the former Palermo man, who was already contracted to Napoli until 2015, has put an end to speculation that he may leave the Stadio San Paolo in the close season by signing on for a further year.

“Next season I want to fight to bring something more to these unique supporters,” Cavani told Radio Marte.

“We’ll try to fight for the Scudetto again as, with this squad, the hunger for success and this serious project in place, we can go far.”

“My family is very happy in Naples and I want to do well here.”

“I decided to stay at Napoli because of the way this city and its fans have treated me.”

“With my renewal, the club proved it wants to achieve many more great things in future.”

“When a person feels so much affection, he has to repay them and that is why I wanted to extend my contract with Napoli.”

“The love of the Napoli supporters is unique, as the only time I felt such affection was the return to Uruguay after the World Cup.”

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis was more than happy to strengthen his club’s hold on a player who has scored 26 goals in the league this season.

“We are satisfied and I’m personally happy to have in my team a champion, but especially a good person,” De Laurentiis said.

The House of Commons has set a date for the debate surrounding confidential documents relating to the Hillsborough stadium disaster. An online petition has passed the 100,000 signatures mark, requiring the motion to be automatically added to the agenda for October 17th. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who was the club’s player-manager at the time of the disaster, has signed the petition, along with former boss Rafael Benitez, who told the Daily Mail he had “signed the petition already and have been supporting that decision”.

In other news this morning, Joey Barton’s ‘free’ transfer to QPR has sparked controversy after rumours began of massive payments to agents; Sir Alex Ferguson has dubbed striker Wayne Rooney the ‘white Pele’; Swiss side FC Sion step up their legal campaign to stay in the Europa League; and

Hillsborough files set to be debated in House of Commons – Daily Mail

FC Sion seek Platini’s arrest after UEFA re-instate Celtic – Daily Mail

FA asked to probe Barton agent fees – The Sun

Ferguson: Rooney is the white Pele – The Sun

City’s Champions’ League winners the key for Mancini – Daily Mirror

Rice: I missed having Arsene on the bench – Daily Mirror

Villas-Boas ‘forgives’ Torres following outstanding performance – The Sun

Blackburn fans planning massive anti-Kean march this weekend – Daily Mirror

Defoe: Adebayor the perfect partner – The Independent

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Woodgate will miss long Europa League trips to guard against injury – Daily Mail

Carson Yeung’s arrest leaves Birmingham unsure of finances – The Guardian

DJ Campbell backs Barton to succeed at Loftus Road – The Guardian

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Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle believes that central defender Gary Cahill has a big future on the international stage.

The 24-year-old missed out on selection for the World Cup finals this summer, but is expected to be called up by coach Fabio Capello if the Italian decides to make changes following England's dismal performances in South Africa.

Coyle told the Bolton News:"I still think he was very unlucky not to be in that squad for the World Cup. Michael Dawson and Ledley King are great players, but I would also put Gary in that bracket.

"He showed such guts to get over his injury and get back to top form. I know people will accuse me of bias or whatever, but from a purely footballing view I would definitely have given him a shot.

"Regardless of whether there are major changes, or people hanging up their boots, I honestly think that Gary will go on and earn international caps for England.

"He's good enough right now, it's not as if we're talking about whether he will improve and mature in the future.

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"Hopefully, he can hit the ground running this summer and get back into the England squad. Once he gets his chance, I'm positive he'll take it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Portsmouth have confirmed that David James is on the verge of leaving the club after they withdrew a fresh contract offer to keep him at Fratton Park.

England's veteran World Cup goalkeeper looks set to move to Scottish Premier League giants Celtic and chief executive David Lampitt and manager Steve Cotterill have reluctantly decided against offering him new terms.

"It was a tricky situation. Steve Cotterill and I discussed it at length," Lampitt told The Portsmouth News.

"From my point of view, we did our absolute best in trying to keep him. I would have loved for him to stay at the club.

"We had various meetings with him and the process went on for quite a long time. The difficulty for us is that we have got to resolve our goalkeeping situation.

"It got to a point where we needed to have some certainty with only three weeks to go until the new season and we need to look at other options.

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"We kept the offer open for as long as we reasonably could to try to give us the best opportunity of retaining him. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Juventus boss Gigi Delneri returns to Sampdoria on Sunday for the first time since taking the reins at the Turin giants in May.

After leading Sampdoria to a fourth-placed finish last season and into the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, the 60-year-old was looking for a new challenge with Juventus, who finished a disappointing seventh in 2009/10.

When asked what type of reception he expected from the supporters at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Delneri was not sure how he would be received.

“What reaction do I expect from the fans? Recognition, the same as I feel for the supporters. I don’t think Sampdoria miss me or (former striker, now at AC Milan) Antonio Cassano and every season is its own story,” Delneri said.

“Besides, it is always exciting for them to take on Juve, regardless of who is on the bench. We had an extraordinary year together that culminated in the Champions League, thanks also to the fantastic atmosphere around the club.”

Delneri downplayed talks of a Serie A title challenge, with his side sitting in sixth position, seven points behind league leaders AC Milan.

“Let’s go easy on talk of the title. I think Juve must always fight to get the best and will improve when we get everyone back from injury,” he said.

Brazilian striker Amauri is back in the side after fracturing his nose, and Delneri has not ruled out a move for Sampdoria front man Giampaolo Pazzini.

“Both strikers are very talented. Pazzini has played more often than Amauri this year, which is why he has scored more goals,” he said.

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“As for other signings, for now we have brought in Luca Toni and will see what else happens. It is a tough moment for the club and we’re trying to improve the squad, but know it is not easy.”

“We’re keeping our eyes open to check out any bargains, but unfortunately at times we want players beyond our budget.”

It’s often an issue up for debate, with some fans seeing things in certain players, which evades others. The tribal world of football often leads us to defend a chosen clubs players beyond the realms of sanity at times, but the sight of your new signing, or former star performer obviously performing below the expected standards frustrates more than any other aspect of the beautiful game.

This list runs through 10 players who have, for various reasons, failed to live up to their reputations, consistently delivering displays which cause the fans to tear their own hair out or scream wildly at the television set.

As always there will be players who some feel should or shouldn’t have made the list, but as is the way football is world of debate and arguments. If we all agreed on everything it would be a very odd world indeed.

Click on Theo Walcott to unveil the top 10s

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AC Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso has apologised for losing his cool in his side’s Champions League defeat on Tuesday.

Tenacious midfielder Gattuso was involved in several incidents during the Italian giants’ 1-0 home defeat to Tottenham, which means Milan will need to win at White Hart Lane to make the Champions League quarter-finals.

The game became ugly when AC Milan’s Mathieu Flamini only received a yellow card for a crude two-footed lunge on Tottenham’s Vedran Corluka, who had to be substituted.

Gattuso traded words with Tottenham’s assistant manager Joe Jordan before shoving him in the face. Tempers flared again after the final whistle, with Gattuso head-butting the Spurs coach.

The retired Italy international had to be restrained by team-mates and escorted down the tunnel. He is expected to face a sanction from UEFA.

“I lost control,” Gattuso told reporters after the match.

“There is no excuse for what I have done. I take my responsibilities for that.”

“I was nervous. I didn’t want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done.”

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp did not want to comment on the incident at the post-match press conference, but was quoted as telling The Daily Mail: “He picked on the wrong man there. I know who I’d pick between Joe and Gattuso anyway … Joe all night long.”

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Redknapp believes the incident showed Milan were ‘rattled’ – a fair achievement for a club who are making their first appearance in the Champions League.

“Milan lost their heads at the end there – they were rattled, for sure – and I guess that’s a good sign,” he said.

Gattuso also picked up a yellow card in the match, meaning he will miss the second-leg clash at White Hart Lane on March 9 regardless of any UEFA punishment.

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez has stated that he knows he harbours a sizeable bulk of the side’s goalscoring responsibilities in 2011/12, but that he will try to remain calm amid heightened expectations.

The former Ajax forward was signed along with Andy Carroll to replace outgoing Fernando Torres in January, and made a good start to his career on Merseyside with impressive performances and four goals in 2010/11. Despite this, the weight of his £22.8million transfer has not gone unnoticed.

“There are so many people watching you. You feel the pressure of what the club has paid for you, but I tried to live as calmly as I could, not to think about the people watching me,” the 24-year-old told Don Balon.

He also revealed his predecessor gave him some words of wisdom before moving to Chelsea for £50 million.

“He told me to be the same player I always was, not to try to change, that Liverpool were a great team and that they would help me to grow a lot. The truth is that his advice was a great help and he was not wrong, he was exactly right,” the Uruguayan continued.

Suarez is represented by Pere Guardiola, brother of Barcelona coach Pep, and he stated an admiration for the current European champions.

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“Before knowing Pere, I had that dream of having the chance to play for Barcelona. Obviously he is connected to Barcelona through his brother, but these are work issues, totally different to personal ones. If [Pep] Guardiola wants me, he will want me totally independently of who represents me,” he concluded.

The Liverpool frontman is currently in Argentina on international for Uruguay in the Copa America.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce slammed the inexperience of referee Anthony Taylor following his side's opening day 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

The Black Cats threw away a two-goal lead as they were held to a stalemate at the Stadium of Light.

Darren Bent's penalty and an own goal from Stephen Carr had put the home side comfortably ahead.

However, midfielder Lee Cattermole was sent off just before half-time for a second bookable offence and afterwards Bruce was furious with the match official.

"Today, all the big decisions, in my opinion, he got them wrong," he said.

"I don't want to criticise referees but I think he's only been refereeing for four years and it looked like it.

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"For it to be in a Premier League game, when we've got (fourth official) Chris Foy standing there, one of the best officials, it doesn't make sense."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email