As a woman – I am sure all of you with a wife or daughter will know this – I am never wrong. It is simply my prerogative as a woman to be always right. Yet I am about to admit the unthinkable and say I have made a mistake. And no, before the Cult of Messi members get too excited, I still rate Ronaldo more – this is about another Real Madrid player, and one Premier League fans will be very familiar with – Lassana Diarra.

Now at the start of the season, and in fact when the lad was in England I never really paid much attention to him, and certainly did not feel he was worth a place in Los Blancos starting line-up, yet he has proved me wrong, and his sheer versatility alone has made him one of the first names on the team sheet, and close to a Mourinho ‘untouchable.’

With the defensive injury issues at Real Madrid, Ramos has spent most of the season so far at centre half with Pepe, and left the right back spot vacant. Lass when needed has played there and been nothing short of fantastic. Not to gush too much about the player, but he has also put the rest of the defensive midfielders to shame, fitting in wherever he is needed and rarely putting a foot wrong with as stray pass or a mistimed tackle.

Why do I tell you this? Well not to admit I was mistaken – that is not something I do often – but to illustrate how valuable versatile players can be. Now by versatile I do not mean squad players – they too are valuable but not in the same way. I mean a first team player who can slot in a few positions if it is needed throughout the game, and do a stand up job.

It is a common thing these days to see a player who can perhaps play as a full back and also slot in as a centre half – Ivanovic can do this well, as can my defender of the year Sergio Ramos – and this is a key thing to have in your locker especially in a top side where the competition for places is immense.

Now no disrespect to players such as Ivanovic, but there is also a new breed of player who can not only play in the back four, but can anchor the midfield and even have a go up top if things got really desperate. Take Phil Jones, who rightly deserves each and every plaudit coming his way. The youngster can do a stellar job near enough anywhere on the field, and if you wouldn’t have him on your team sheet for this alone you are either roughly as intelligent as Rooney, or you are lying.

Look at how much Chelsea have missed the train himself Michael Essien this season. Whilst Essien is rehabbing by what seems to be watching the darts live on sky sports, the Blues midfield lacks drive and the passion Essien brought. Not to mention he is fully capable of filling in at centre half and could almost certainly do a better job at right back than Ferreira or Boswinga can.

A player like Jones is such a precious commodity, and the thing that makes him all the more special is the fact that he loves the game so much that he will play wherever is asked of him with a smile on his face and give it everything.

In an age with players such as Van Der Vaart who need to be played in what seems the specific inch to which he has requested or all hell breaks loose, this is a welcome sight and one fans love to see.

The games are now coming thick and fast, and injuries and suspensions are beginning to tot up, making the players who possess that little bit of versatility all the more valuable. Managers lucky enough to have such players know how important they are, as do their team mates and it’s about time the media and fans did as well.

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One thing about working for a football website is that you learn very quickly about different sets of supporters. Some are blinkered about their clubs; some are militant in the face of opposition and criticism; while there are those ‘voice of reasons’ that endeavour to paint an honest account of the state of their football team. The latter isn’t the most popular in the blogosphere, as the possible slight on their football club sees the tribalism come out and in their packs they try to put the dissenter down. Everyone it seems is entitled to their opinion, as long as it is a popular one with the masses.

It is quite amusing to watch theses different groups of supporters’ debate and observe the way they respond to certain buttons being pressed. Some don’t seem to understand when they are being reeled in and subsequently take to the bait. One club in particular I cannot for the life of me understand as to why they are getting so defensive; especially when they should be lapping their current situation up.

Manchester City as a football club are the whipping boys of the blogosphere.  Everyone is only too quick to have a pop at them; painting a bleak picture and suggesting they are responsible for any atrocity currently taking place within the world.

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It is ludicrous the response that City get and you end up seeing very few positive articles about the football club as rival supporters, fuelled by jealousy in the large part, choose to take the time chastising them rather than address what is going on at their own football clubs. I still find it hard to understand as to why City fans, rather than milk the current situation that they as a football club are finally going to be challenging for league and European titles, after years of mediocrity, continue to get defensive about the criticisms. There isn’t a club fan, other than perhaps United, who wouldn’t love to be in City’s situation at present and see their club looking to buy the best players and challenging for trophies year on year. They should be rubbing that fact into their faces, because most of them would give anything to be on the rollercoaster ride that City fans are about to be taken on in the coming years. City fans should learn to enjoy it, because no one else will.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has praised former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and believes he has all the qualities to manage a top club.

The former Red Devils striker has led Molde to a domestic Norwegian title in his debut coaching role, the first in the club’s history.

Solskjaer is being touted as a surprise contender to replace the Scottish coach at Old Trafford, and Ferguson feels the Scandinavian has the ability to make the step up.

“He’s got an inner toughness, there’s no doubt about that. He’s a nice man with a lovely manner about him,” Sir Alex told Mirror Football.

“If you go to a club in Norway that has never won the league ever in their history and you win the league… you have to have something about you to do that.

“He has brought in his own staff. He’s brought two coaches from United to the club so he knew where he was going. A useful thing to have in management is good decision making.

“Ole always wanted to stay in the game, so from an early age he was preparing stay in the game as a coach or as a manager, as he is at the moment.

“He was one of those professionals who used to take down all the notes from the training sessions and games, so he has given himself a better chance than the rest,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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The Stuart Pearce years at Manchester City are not cherished by many fans. With his hands tied, Pearce had a difficult job keeping City in the Premier League, a job he succeeded in. But boy was it dull. I remember sitting in the North Stand one blustery afternoon, trying to remember the last time I had witnessed a goal down that end of the stadium – it had been a couple of months.

But amongst the dour football, Pearce did do one thing for which City fans should always be grateful. In May 2006, he signed Shrewsbury Town’s goalkeeper Joe Hart, for a modest £600,000. The rest, as they say, is history.

Hart is proof that the talent is there in the lower leagues, talent that can be developed to the highest level, and the price doesn’t always have to be exorbitant because of the premium put on English players.

I would speculate that any manager of an English football team would prefer to have a team full of Englishmen. That’s not xenophobia at work, just an acceptance that English players are more likely to adapt, understand the mentality, and not flit off abroad. There are also no limits on Englishmen in the squad either of course. And they are more valuable assets if they move on simply because of their nationality. So there is a logic in buying English.

But it is understandable why managers look elsewhere, when value is so hard to find.

Take Spain for example, where players are not permitted to sign professional contracts until their 18th birthday – a rule Arsenal first took advantage of in 2003 by signing Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona when he was 16.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell branded Arsenal’s acquisition of Toral Harper as “legal but immoral”. It’s little wonder managers often look abroad – it’s cheaper, but also it is where their expertise lies for many – Arsene Wenger knows France, and has his contacts there. Mancini probably has strong knowledge and contacts in Italy. Villas-Boas likewise in Portugal. When so few successful managers in England are actually English, it’s little surprise that contacts are used to plunder foreign players.

However, recent rule changes back here in England may change the outlook of many big clubs. After England’s poor showing at the 2010 World Cup Alex Horne, the FA’s general secretary, was tasked with looking into why the nation has failed, despite the unrivalled success of the Premier League, to reliably produce players of international quality. In January he announced 25 proposals to improve the prospects of the national side, a list designed to tally with the Premier League’s own plan, which was unveiled the following month.

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The Elite Player Performance Plan, which was voted on by the 72 League clubs, included a rule-change whereby players living more than 90 minutes’ travelling time away would be lifted. So clubs would be free to set up boarding schools for the best young talent they could find, regardless of where they came from.

Not surprisingly, this favours the big clubs, who now may look more to young football league talent, not because it always made sense and they have suddenly seen the light, but because the rule shave changed to make this easier and cheaper for them to do so. Though the EPPP will affect every league club, it was drawn up by members and employees of the Premier League. Add to this the proposed scrapping of the football tribunal, which would see initial fees significantly reduced, compared with those agreed under the existing system. Add-ons for future career success could help negate this though. The plan was voted through, not surprising as the Premier League withheld money until they accepted.

Predictably, the plans created much fury in the football league, with some teams claiming they would give up on developing youth as there was no point as any talented players would be poached at a young age, so they would be wasting money they didn‘t have. This threat could lead to Premier League teams returning abroad again to find young talent.

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But whilst you could argue it is unfair for Premier League teams to poach lower league players, it is not all bad – teams with a good youth set-up rely on such a process, like Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace for example. Selling on the products of a fruitful academy is a means of surviving. Joe Hart may have been a steal at £600,000, but that’s still a lot of money for the likes of Shrewsbury. With add-ons linked to career success, there are further rewards for them as he progresses, which will more than double that original fee. The rules also allow more time to train youngsters each day, meaning teams will still invest in academies and youth, as a means of success and of survival.

The talent is there for Premier League teams to find talent in the lower leagues, mostly amongst youngsters, and throughout the years the smaller teams have always had players taken off them at a young age, having done the ground-work and the initial talent-spotting. New rules will only exacerbate this, but the reason many look abroad instead is not only cost, but the technical skills that many think to be lacking in English youngsters. For the big teams to look closer to home, the arguments put forward by so many in recent years have to be fully implemented to make English players more appealing – no more children playing on full pitches, no more emphasis on power and size over natural skill, and a proper compensation scheme to make it worthwhile for the smaller teams to continue to develop youngsters. Only then can we have a system in England where young English talent flourishes, and a system that benefits all sides. But as Joe Hart shows, time is needed for these players to develop – the culture of modern football for instant results and quick success only hinders further the development of our young players.

Howard has written a fictional book, available for very little on Kindle. Give it a go here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/High-Stakes-ebook/dp/B004LDM51O

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is under investigation from Uefa, after he criticised the referee following the club’s European exit on Tuesday night.

Goals from Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie meant that the Gunners beat AC Milan 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, but were still eliminated due to a 4-0 first leg away defeat.

The French coach was unhappy with the constant award of free kicks for small misdemeanours by Slovenian official Damir Skomina, and he made his displeasure known after the game.

“I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park,” he told Sky Sports at the time.

“Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well.”

Uefa have confirmed that Wenger is now facing further action, and that they will look at Skomina’s match report to decide if sanctions should be taken against the Arsenal boss.

“A disciplinary case has been opened for improper conduct,” a spokesperson confirmed.

If Wenger is found guilty it will be the third ban he has received from Uefa in the last year.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Funny isn’t it; football speculation. Score in back to back games, a few influential commentators start eavesdropping on old stats, new attributes are uncovered and more chins start wagging. This has been the recent fate of Fulham’s Clint Dempsey but in spite of the Texan’s recent form, he has steadily been doing this for years down by the river at the Cottage. It is only now, that more people are recognising the true qualities the United States International brings to the table. Naturally, managers catch wind and the West London club are likely to receive a few official approaches in the summer but there was no such gamble in January or in seasons past; if the signing of Dempsey were to be a gamble anyway.

If you trace your eyes through the rosters of football teams worldwide, you are hard pressed to find American’s cutting it at the top end of the respective divisions. American goalkeepers have seemingly embraced the so-called ‘bigger clubs’ more greatly than the outfield with Brad Friedel currently being employed at Tottenham and Tim Howard having a four year spell at Manchester United. However, national team hero Landon Donovan has opted to remain at LA Galaxy with a few fleeting appearances on loan at Everton and a big club in Bayern Munich who eventually declined extending his loan after the striker failed to register in six league games.

Moreover, the much-coveted pair of Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu; deemed the national team future, tried and failed to cut their teeth at bigger European clubs with spells at Villarreal and Benfica going horribly wrong and loan spells to places they would have never heard of such as Hull and Rizespor proving their dim reality. Adu even had a trial with Manchester United before the 2006 season but a failed work permit and a few issues again represented the door being slammed shut in the face once more of the Stars and Stripes young hopefuls.

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So why are American talents being overlooked by top clubs? It is a tired old stereotype nowadays that the States don’t take an interest in soccer with the MLS forging a greater reputation year on year, the national team being managed by Jurgen Klinsmann and the team remaining in the top 30 ranked FIFA nations. With a talent pool of whopping proportions also given the country’s size, you would think the bigger sides would have tapped into more American talent.

Arsene Wenger may have been representative of a changing attitude in getting Brek Shea over on trial for Arsenal in January but there was still the overriding notion that this spell was simply to do with so-called experience and that alone. Of the few Statesiders we have seen at mid-table Premier League clubs we have recognised tremendous work rate, energy and patriotism to the cause as characteristic to their native roots. Clint Dempsey, Stuart Holden, Brian McBride and DaMarcus Beasley have all been steady pros and have shone in their respective clubs but have failed to achieve any more than this in English football. Dempsey; the highest American scorer and highest Fulham goal scorer in any of their Premier League seasons might just be the first to earn a big move after recently striking his 16th goal of the season but bigger clubs have sometimes plumped for talent from the United States old international rival in Mexico with Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez infiltrating English football’s elite more quickly than their neighbours to the north.

Perhaps it is just a mere coincidence that Americans are readily adopted by middle-of-the-road clubs but the fact that any club has to go through the complicated application for a work permit for a United States player doesn’t explain their top-heavy presence away from the elite level. Of course stereotypes run deep and because no such American player has established himself thus far at a big club such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona, Milan or Madrid, this may have a big say in elite managers’ sub conscious decisions in still overlooking the pioneering prospect of grooming the next American superstar. Perhaps the few failed examples at bigger clubs in Howard, Altidore, Adu, Spector and Donovan have been powerful in harming the chances of future stars in the eyes of the modern talent scout.

Nevertheless, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United toured the States last summer and you’d imagine there must be more to these trips than simply expanding their respective brands worldwide. With scouting teams and systems growing season-on-season, then surely the next decade will mark the start of a golden generation for the United States and their presence of players at top clubs and not solely lower down the divisions or comfortably down home in the MLS.

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Why do you think American footballers have failed to infiltrate the so-called elite clubs? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

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On Monday night, Manchester United went five points clear of their cross-town rivals City in the race for the league title with a 2-0 success at Blackburn. With seven games to go, City and fellow football fans alike might be gaining the familiar old notion of inevitability that United are coming good right at the end, like they always do. If United do win it, it will be their 20th title in English football; a remarkable feat and a great advert for aspiring young footballers to ply their trade at Old Trafford; but not particularly for one current youngster.

The name Paul Pogba has donned the lips of many a Red Devils fan this season with the Frenchman representing just the latest star off the clubs production line we should all be making a song and dance about. The domineering Pogba who plays central midfield and stands at an impressive 6ft1 despite his slender 19 years has figured increasingly in recent months, amidst a refusal to end speculation surrounding his future.

Pogba is yet to sign a contract extension at Old Trafford and is increasingly irking the decisions of Sir Alex Ferguson in rewarding him with a first team berth, amid head turning interest from Juventus and the reported offer of a four-year deal worth some £20,000 a week. Whilst the Frenchman is keeping his options open, this indecisive behaviour is upsetting not only the manager who has subsequently dropped Pogba to the reserves and back again but supporters also with questions about greed reaching prevalence.

With the grass not always greener elsewhere, Ravel Morrison has found that being an ex-Manchester United player doesn’t always mean you’re given the divine right to feature somewhere else so readily, with the midfielder receiving just ten minutes in game time at West Ham following his January transfer window move. It remains whether Morrison will do a John Bostock and embark on a career shrouded in disappointment and what could’ve been or whether he can eventually play up to the reputation once billed. After all, Morrison is still young, and West Ham remains in the pressure cooker environment of a Championship promotion battle where experience counts ever so greatly.

However, in the case of Pogba, Manchester United will in the short-term be looking for a midfield successor to Paul Scholes and following Darren Fletcher’s extended break from football to deal with his ongoing ulcerative colitis, first team chances in central midfield for Pogba might not be as far away as first imaginable. It just seems as if Pogba would be walking away right at the time where he just might be on the fringes of real contention at Old Trafford.

In March, Pogba appeared three times from the dugout appearing for the longest spell against Wolves where he clocked up over half an hour on the field after replacing Michael Carrick. Comfortable in possession and sturdy with an eye for a pass, it is easy to see why Juventus have taken an interest in the France Under-19 international.

Of course, if Pogba did flee the riches of Manchester, he mightn’t be making such a big mistake as first thought. It’s hard to believe now but one Gerard Pique sat on the United bench coming on for a twenty minute cameo in a Carling Cup Third Round tie at Gresty Road, Crewe in October 2004. After departing the club as a youngster in 2008, the centre back has gone on to become one of the most critically acclaimed centre halves in the game with Barcelona. Similarly, Giuseppe Rossi fled to the bright lights of La Liga in 2007 and has gone on to strike over half a century of goals for Villarreal. Two shining examples serving as evidence that United kids can get their kicks elsewhere, but Pogba’s departure would be a risk, considering the appealing prestige and traditions of his current employers.

Only time will tell, but one thing is sure; Sir Alex Ferguson won’t be crossed more than once and Pogba will have to swiftly make his mind up just where his future lies.

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How good is Paul Pogba? Does his long-term future remain at Old Trafford? Would he be making a mistake in engineering a move to foreign shores? I want to hear your views United fans @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

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The art of good punditry is a somewhat underappreciated talent, there’s a misconstrued belief that if you’ve enjoyed a career in professional football – however brief – you’ll be able to offer wise and insightful opinions.

However, we know this is simply not the case, as television studios across the country are constantly cluttered with figures spouting opinions that are either prehistoric or are built on unrelenting favouritism.

There are some that break the mould, who knew Gary Neville would be infinitely more likeable as a pundit than as a player? Yet, the majority thrive on burrowing under our skin creating an irritating and uncomfortable experience from start to finish.

Therefore I have compiled a list of the top ten pundits who make me seriously consider turning over to the snooker or at the very least muting the television

Click Garth Crooks below to see the 10 most annoying pundits

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Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I wish I had this button on my television remote.

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Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a bid for Russia star Alan Dzagoev, according to The Daily Mail.

The CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder has impressed at Euro 2012, scoring a brace in his side’s 4-1 win over Czech Republic and again in their 1-1 draw with Poland.

Dzagoev is out of contract in Russian capital in December, and after a strong Euro 2012 campaign this summer the 21-year-old is expected to be the subject of a transfer chase from some of Europe’s leading teams.

Arsene Wenger is eager to add to his options going forward, with a deal to bring Lukas Podolski to the club already completed and the north London outfit in talks with Montpellier over France forward Olivier Giroud.

However, Dzagoev may also be on the Emirates club’s wishlist, with the eastern European playmaker valued at around £13 million.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Having been touted as one of the most exciting prospects in English football, and having been watched by scouts from Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid, to end up playing for Wigan, and to have your style of play defined by inconsistency, must be somewhat disappointing for Victor Moses.

The logic of signing for Wigan was that he would have the opportunity to play regular first team football in order to prove himself before a bigger club came along. A rational stance to take, but it hasn’t all gone as planned. Apart from anything else, Moses has been relatively disappointing since his move to the Premier League.

As a club that plays attacking, fast paced football Wigan should have been the perfect club, with the perfect manager, to develop Moses into a quality player. And, although he showed signs of that last season, Moses is far from a proven commodity.

It’s true that there were some stand out performances at the end of last season, particularly in games such as the 2-1 victory over Arsenal at The Emirates but if he wants to make it at a top club then more than the occasional stellar performance is necessary.

So, with that in mind, it seems a little strange that Chelsea are reported to be closing in on a £10m deal for Moses. In the past twelve months Chelsea have signed Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Marko Marin and Eden Hazard. On top of that they also have Yossi Benayoun, who had a brilliant season for Arsenal, returning to the club.

Moses likes to play on the left side of an attacking three, but despite the loss of Kalou, competition couldn’t really be higher. At the moment they have Marin, De Bruyne, Malouda, Benayoun, Sturridge, Mata and Hazard who can all play there. It might not be many of those players preferred position yet that is where new boy Hazard played much of last season for Lille.

Alright, you might think, so Moses is being signed as a replacement winger – but the options already available make it a strange choice nonetheless. With Drogba having left, Torres and Sturridge’s form remaining inconsistent, and Lukaku having barely played last year it is possible that Chelsea and Di Matteo intend to use Moses as an alternative option up front; this would be understandable if Moses played there for Wigan.

The true reasons for Chelsea’s interest are surely part of a longer-term plan by the club’s hierarchy to reduce the age of the squad and buy young talented players before financial fair play comes in to effect. After wasting vast sums of money on ageing players like Shevchenko a few years ago, Chelsea now have an increasingly large group of younger players. As I mentioned before players like Lukaku, De Bruyne, Marin have been added to Sturridge, Courtois and now Hazard. Moses could be the next on the list.

Chelsea know they have an old squad, but where Andre Villas Boas failed in his attempt to rebuild the team Abramovich, Bruce Buck and Ron Gourlay will not.

Both Di Matteo and Villas-Boas admitted to moves for players being made without their involvement and it appears that trend will continue.

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One further point that could be mentioned, which I admit is nothing but lateral speculation, is that players like Marin, De Bruyne and Moses are all promising yet far from world class; they’re also relatively cheap. Having been burned with high transfer fees for players like Shevchenko and Torres perhaps Chelsea feel they would rather buy lots of promising, cheap youngsters in the hope that just one or two of them turn out well than risk huge transfer fees. After all, for the price of Torres, Chelsea could buy five or six such players and one or two of them may turn out to be as good or better than the Spaniard.

Follow me on twitter @H_Mackay

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