Monthly Archives: September 2010

Grant still optimistic

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Avram Grant is confident that West Ham can turn their season around and feels their performances do not justify their current place in the Premier League (West Ham 11/8 to be relegated).

The Hammers are currently bottom of the Premier League, having taken just one point from their opening five games, with a 1-1 draw at Stoke last time out.

The East Enders began their season with a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa before Bolton took all three points with a 3-1 victory at Upton Park.

A 3-0 defeat away to Manchester United followed while league-leading Chelsea then secured a 3-1 victory over the Irons.

Scott Parker scored in the 32nd minute to give West Ham the goal they needed to secure their first point of the season at the Britannia Stadium last weekend and they followed that up by beating Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light to continue their progress in the Carling Cup.

Despite the club’s current predicament, the manager remains upbeat about his side’s prospects this term and feels that the way they have played at times this season is not reflected in their current league position.

“I am very optimistic about the future of this club. We know what we are doing, we have a vision about this club and I am optimistic about it,” he told the East London Advertiser.

“If you have seen our games, this is not the place for us. but we need to take points. We have a long, long season. I think it will be very hard, but it will be possible. But it is very frustrating when we play so well but don’t take three points.”

Grant will welcome Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham to east London on Saturday, with Spurs currently in fifth place in the table after an up-and-down start to their campaign (West Ham 13/5 – 90 minutes).

The Israeli coach will take heart from the fact that Wigan took all three points from the north Londoners just four weeks ago and Arsenal’s young side beat them 4-1 in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night.

Both Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne opened their scoring accounts on Tuesday against the Black Cats and Grant was impressed by what he saw from one to 11 in the north east.

“They worked very hard, they moved very well and they played well together – but all the team behind them played well,” he added.

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Gerrard vows to get Reds going

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Steven Gerrard has promised Liverpool will come through their current slump and says everyone at Anfield is fully focused on getting three points against Sunderland (Liverpool 4/9, draw 14/5, Sunderland 7/1 – 90 minutes) in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Reds’ poor start to the season hit a new low on Wednesday evening when they were dumped out of the Carling Cup at home by League Two outfit Northampton on penalties.

The performance was way below what was expected of a side – containing six full internationals at the start – on a rain-soaked night on Merseyside and was the first time Liverpool have ever been beaten by a team from the lowest rung of the English football ladder in Cup competition.

First-team squad players Ryan Babel, Lucas, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Daniel Agger and David Ngog all started the game while they were selected alongside youngsters Danny Wilson, Jay Spearing, Dani Pacheco and Martin Kelly.

However, Roy Hodgson’s side barely deserved to claim a 2-2 draw against the minnows following 120 minutes of football and it was left to club captain Gerrard to try and take the positives out of a shocking night for the club (Liverpool 2/1 – Top 4 Finish).

“They will learn from this experience. Football isn’t just about highs,” he told the club’s website.

“Throughout my career I have experienced both highs and lows and probably learnt more from the lows because you look at yourself first, look at what went wrong and try to learn from your mistakes. The players are allowed to be down today but it’s up to players like myself to pick them back up because playing for this club there are big games every two or three days and we need to get everyone’s head focused on Sunderland now.

“There are still some positives underneath the frustration. Although we’ve gone out and everyone is down and disappointed, the experience that would have given the lads in the dressing room might be vital for the future.”

Gerrard says the players must not dwell on the result and everyone must pull together for the Black Cats clash – a game that is likely to see a completely different line-up chosen by Hodgson.

“The last thing we want now is for people to be sulking with their heads down because there’s a massive game in three days,” he added.

“No-one is hurting more than the players who played. We’ve all been there and all experienced it. Everyone is disappointed and down but it’s not the end of the world. It’s gone now, it’s important we move on and think about Sunderland and try to get the three points.”

“What I would ask all the supporters is to trust the players and what the players are saying. I’ve been reading and listening to what they’ve been saying and they’ve all said we’ll get it right in the end – and we will.”

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Rivals face major injuries

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Manchester City currently have just three fit defenders ahead of their crunch clash with Chelsea (Man City 21/10, Draw 9/4, Chelsea 6/5 – Match Betting), who themselves have major injury concerns.

Both teams crashed out of the Carling Cup in midweek but the two managers would have had one eye on Saturday’s big game at Eastlands.

City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed that he is desperately short of defensive options ahead of the weekend, with Micah Richards the latest concern.

The England international missed the League Cup defeat at West Brom due to a hamstring problem and is in a race against time to be fit for the weekend.

Mancini says Pablo Zabaleta will play at right back against the league leaders, while Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure are the only other two fully-fit players.

The Italian admitted: “I hope that Micah Richards can recover. If not I don’t know who can play left-back. We have big problems.”

Gareth Barry or James Milner (4/1 to score at anytime) could well be asked to play in an unfamiliar role at left back, although Wayne Bridge still has an outside chance of making the weekend.

Mancini says he has no regrets over his team selection at the Hawthorns, even though City (4/6 Premier League 2010-11 Top Four Finish) crashed out of the Carling Cup.

The former Sampdoria (28/1 to win 2010-11 Europa League) striker added: “Saturday is more important, the FA Cup is more important. The Europa League is more important.

“I did not regard this as a necessary sacrifice. We wanted to win. That is why I had four senior players on the bench. But I knew there was a chance we could lose because we started with six young players.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s injury list continues to grow with Yossi Benayoun and Salomon Kalou almost certainly ruled out of Saturday’s match.

Both players featured in the Carling Cup loss to Newcastle, with Benayoun suffering a calf injury and Kalou picking up a thigh problem.

Carlo Ancelotti said: “We will know more soon, but they don’t look good. They will miss the next few games. These things happen in football.”

Ancelotti already has major doubts over the fitness of Frank Lampard, while Gael Kakuta is also sidelined with thigh injury.

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Fab boost for Gunners

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas believes he will have recovered from his hamstring injury in time to play against Premier League title rivals Chelsea on October 3 (Arsenal 11/2, Chelsea 3/4 – Premier League outright).

The midfielder suffered the injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland and the initial diagnosis was that it would keep him out for at least three weeks.

However, the Spain star is confident he will be back in contention to take on leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a week on Sunday – in what will be a major boost to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

He told reporters back in Spain: “The injury is not as bad as we first thought. There is no muscle rupture and I will be back perfect in about 10 to 11 days.

“I am working with an osteopath in Paris and just working day to day.

“I think I will make the Chelsea game.”

Fabregas, who has hit three goals so far this season following a summer in which he was constantly linked with a move to Barcelona, will definitely sit out this weekend’s home game with West Brom (Arsenal 1/6, West Brom 16/1, draw 5/1 – 90 minutes) and the Champions League tie in Belgrade against Partizan.

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Ancelotti puts faith in youth

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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed he will test his side’s youngsters in tonight’s Carling Cup showdown with Newcastle (Match Betting -  Chelsea 1/4, draw 4/1, Newcastle 8/1).

The Blues remain the only side in the Premier League with a 100% record, with the Stamford Bridge outfit winning all five of their games so far, scoring 21 goals and conceding just once, but the Italian tactician has revealed he will rest some of his senior stars for Newcastle’s visit (Chelsea 3/4 to win the Premier League).

The likes of Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien , John Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard will play no part in tonight’s contest, with Gael Kakuta,  Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt  and Daniel Sturridge (7/2 to score the first goal) all expected to start against Newcastle.

The Chelsea boss believes the younger players at Stamford Bridge are ready to make the step up, and Ancelotti revealed he hopes to have the opportunities to continue to test his rising stars throughout the current campaign.

“It is a good experience for them to play this kind of game,” Ancelotti explained. “They are involved this season more compared to last season and when there is an opportunity I want to give them the opportunity to play and show their quality.

“Sturridge played in the Champions League, Kakuta played two games, Bruma played in the last game against Blackpool  and they will get more opportunities to play.

“The Academy has done a good job in the last years and now we have the young players ready to play in our squad.”

However, while a number of Chelsea’s experienced heads will sit out the Carling Cup fixture, Ancelotti admitted he hopes captain John Terry will be available to play some part (Chelsea 9/2 to win the Carling Cup).

He added: “JT is fit to play and maybe can play for 45 minutes which could help Bruma, but Lampard is not available.”

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton will be without first-choice keeper Steve Harper, who picked up a shoulder injury during the victory over Everton, so Tim Krul will deputise in his absence.

Hughton is also expected to hand a debut to veteran defender Sol Campbell, who is now match fit after joining the club on a free transfer in the summer.

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Hammers star wants winning habit

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James Tomkins is hoping that West Ham’s first away win in over a year can kick-start the club’s struggling start to their league season (Hammers 11/8 to be relegated).

The Hammers currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw at Stoke last weekend.

However, the side managed their first win away from home in 13 months with a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday night.

Goals from Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna were enough to give the Hammers the win, and Tomkins wants the players to take confidence from this victory and take it forward into their Premier League clash with Tottenham (West Ham 13/5 to win, Spurs evens, draw 23/10) at Upton Park on Saturday.

West Ham need to make their home ground a fortress if they are to climb off the bottom of the table, but face a tough challenge against a Spurs side sitting in fifth spot and looking for a Premier League top-four finish for the second season in succession (Spurs 11/4 to finish in top four).

“The lads are buzzing. It is good to get our confidence back and start on winning ways. We need to get in the habit of doing this now as in the last few games we had played well but hadn’t taken anything,” said the Hammers Academy graduate.

“We did it against Stoke on Saturday. Not many teams go there and get a draw. We were able to build on that with the victory against Sunderland.

“It would be nice to have a cup run but first it is back to Tottenham in the league on Saturday and that is a massive game.”

West Ham boss Avram Grant paid particular praise to his front two of Piquionne and Obinna after the Sunderland win. He knows that goals have been hard to come by this season and the Hammers need someone to score regularly if they are to win games on a consistent basis.

The club’s striker’s inability to get goals led to the relegation dogfight last season and all the fans around Upton Park are hoping for no repeat this campaign.

Grant claims the club is making progress and he wants his players to continue to perform “with the same style” and convert chances into goals.

Speaking about his front two, he added: “They worked very hard, they moved very well and they played well together – but all the team behind them played well..

“We passed the ball very well in the midfield so it was more easy for them to find space to score two fantastic goals.”

After the Spurs game, West Ham (8/15 to stay up) then face Fulham at Upton Park before travelling to Wolves in their next two Premier League games.

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Inter to face confident Bari

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Bari striker Paulo Barreto says the Galletti (6/1) are full of confidence going into tonight’s Serie A clash with champions Inter (4/11) at the San Siro.

The Brazilian scored his first goal of the season in Bari’s 2-2 draw at Napoli last week, which they followed up with a 0-0 draw against Cagliari at the weekend.

The minnows remain unbeaten in Serie A after opening up the campaign with a 1-0 home defeat of mighty Juventus.

“I have already scored in Milan with Udinese,” said Barreto. “That was against the Rossoneri. This time it could be the occasion to do it against Inter too,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“When you play in a stadium like San Siro there is no need for motivation.

“It’s stimulating to show yourself in Italy’s most important stadium. If we play like we can then Inter will be in trouble. Playing Bari is not easy for anyone.”

Giampiero Ventura’s outfit must overcome an Inter side who finally appear to be settling down under Spanish tactician Rafael Benitez.

Inter won at Palermo – where the Sicilians hadn’t lost for 18 months – at the weekend and played their best football of the season, showing the old team spirit fostered by ex-bpss Jose Mourinho to come from behind.

The 2-1 win should get the media off Benitez’s back after lacklustre showings against Bologna, Udinese and Twente.

Cameroon hitman Samuel Eto’o struck twice in eight minutes in Sicily, his fifth and six goals of the campaign already, and he is now overshadowing last season’s hero Diego Milito for Inter.

Benitez’s only absentee is Thiago Motta, who is expected to return from injury in two weeks.

Bari’s injury victims include Salvatore Masiello, Jaime Romero and Alessandro Gazzi.

Bari stunned Inter not once but twice last term, holding the treble winners to a 1-1 draw (13/2 in Correct Scores) at San Siro on the opening day and a 2-2 (20/1) draw at the Stadio San Nicola in January, a match they had led 2-0.

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Barcelona’s Villa eyes Gijon goals

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Barcelona (1/7 in Match – 90 Mins betting) striker David Villa says he is not concerned about failing to convert any chances against Atletico Madrid as he prepares to face his old club Sporting Gijon (16/1) at the Nou Camp tonight.

Although the Spanish international striker (7/4 First or Last Goalscorer, 2/5 Anytime) has faced the Rojiblancos before while he was at Valencia, this will be his first match against Sporting in the colours of the Blaugrana.

The World Cup winner spent four years at El Molinon, initially with the ‘B’ team before making the grade, and his career has since taken him through Real Zaragoza and Valencia – who received 40 million euros from Barcelona this summer.

Villa told El Guaje: “Of course it will be a special game. I had to face Sporting with Valencia in the past, and that is great news for me, because that means that Sporting are in the first division.

“I wish them all the best – but after the match against Barcelona!

“People know how I feel about Sporting. I grew up playing there, but it is clear that I will give everything for my current club to help them win the game.”

There are rumours in Spain that Sporting will rest several key players at the Nou Camp and accept their fate against a Barcelona side without Lionel Messi through injury.

The Argentina star hurt ankle ligaments in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Atletico in Madrid, so Villa and the rest of the senior stars will be expected to step up in his absence.

The Barca striker was unable to add to his three goals for the club at the Vicente Calderon when he found Atletico keeper David de Gea in top form.

He said: “What is important is that the team wins, but it is true that I was a bit annoyed at not scoring.

“The coach told me he was happy with me and goals will eventually come, and I think exactly the same way.”

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Ferguson hails new ‘genius’

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Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has now joined Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez as a 7/1 shot for the 2010/11 Premier League Golden Boot.

The Bulgarian boosted his tally for the campaign thanks to a match-winning hat-trick against arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday – the Red Devils won the game 3-2 despite seeing a two-goal lead cancelled out by Steven Gerrard – following strikes against Newcastle, West Ham and Everton.

Berbatov’s treble was his first for United following his switch from Spurs two years ago and it was also United’s first against Liverpool in over 60 years, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men bounced back from draw against Everton and Rangers, the latter of which was in the Champions League.

Berbatov has struggled to justify his £30m price tag since swapping White Hart Lane for Old Trafford and while he stole the headlines, the 29-year-old will also be aware he must back up his performance.

Ferguson admits fans were right to be sceptical about the former Bulgaria captain’s ability to slot into United’s side, but the Scot now hopes a corner has been turned.

“Lots of questions were asked about him last season and he was made something of a whipping boy, to the point where he must have wondered whether he had a future at Old Trafford,” said Ferguson.

“But the man has real ability and he is a Manchester United kind of player.

“I concede at times he seemed to struggle but if you are satisfied about a player’s credentials you must persevere and trust your judgement.

“You must have faith and I think we are being rewarded this season for our confidence in a player who has a touch of genius about him.”

Ferguson added: “We paid a lot of money for him and we should have understood that for whatever reason players do not always settle quickly after a big transfer, especially at a club of our stature.

“Certainly this is a big season for him that could determine the rest of his career.”

Meanhile, Tevez was also on target at the weekend, opening the scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Wigan which also saw summer signing Yaya Toure get off the mark for the Blues.

City are now up to fourth place ahead of Saturday’s home clash against champions Chelsea who have won all five games so far in the Premier League (City 4/6 – Top Four Finish).

Before that, boss Roberto Mancini takes City (4/6 – 90 minutes) to West Brom (7/2) on Wednesday for a Carling Cup third-round clash.

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Kop legend backs Torres

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Liverpool striking legend Robbie Fowler reckons Fernando Torres (9/1 to be Premier League top scorer 2010/11) is “not as far away” from his top form as doubters around Anfield seem to be suggesting.

The Spanish number nine has endured a struggle in 2010, with a catalogue of injuries blighting his year. The latest one he sustained in the World Cup final for Spain means he missed most of pre-season training and has showed signs of lacking fitness during Liverpool’s opening Premier League matches.

Fowler, who scored 183 goals for Liverpool during two spells at the club, claims it is only a matter of time until Torres is banging in the goals for Roy Hodgson’s side as they look to get back into the Premier League top four. (Liverpool 2/1 to finish in top four outright)

The Reds have had a difficult start to the season but showed during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend they are building as a team under Hodgson.

Fowler told Liverpool’s official website that Torres’ performance at Old Trafford, particularly during the second half showed it “was evident” that “he will get results” if his team-mates get the ball to him.

The Liverpool legend, now aged 35 and playing for Perth Glory in the Australian League, is no stranger to injury problems and he told Liverpool fans it can “take time” to get back to your best level after an injury.

“He’s [Torres] had more than his fair share in recent times. Even just a fraction of a percentage makes a massive difference at his level, and in a couple of weeks he’ll probably look a different man again,” said Fowler.

“When he’s at the top of his game then his touch and pace are a deadly combination, but it’s probably not quite there yet as he’s still coming back from a series of injuries that can affect that first explosive moment on the ball.

“You can never question his contribution to the team, because he is prepared to put in a shift up front on his own against some of the best – and toughest – defenders in the world, and believe me that’s not easy.”

Fellow Kop legend Kenny Dalglish, who had been linked with a return to the Anfield hot seat during the summer, has said that Liverpool need to concentrate on winning the Premier League rather than looking for Cup successes.

Hodgson’s side face Northampton at Anfield in the Carling Cup (Liverpool 1/7 to win, Northampton 11/1, draw 11/2) on Wednesday night and the manager is expected to make a number of changes as he gives opportunities for fringe players to impress.

Despite the obvious opportunities for success in the Carling Cup, FA Cup and also the Europa League, former boss Kenny Dalglish has told BBC Radio Merseyside that Liverpool should make it a priority to be “back to where they should be” and winning titles – something they have not done since he was in charge in 1990.

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