Of all the derbies within the English game, Tottenham Hotspur versus Arsenal is one of the most fierce rivalries. This weekend’s upcoming fixture sees the red half of North London starting on the back foot which has been quite rare in the Premier League era.

The last time Spurs finished above the Gunners was in 1995 but this season, the Lilywhites look like they can mount a serious challenge again for 4th place. Last season, the Champions League sapped a lot out of them and from 2011 onwards, the White Hart Lane side never appeared front runners for 4th place.

This year, Spurs have a great opportunity to finish higher than their fiercest rivals. Their chances should only increase after being knocked out of the Carling Cup early on and with manager Harry Redknapp fielding youngsters in the Europa League.

So why is the game so important for each side?

The rivalry cannot be overlooked. A derby victory for either side will help to drag onside any disillusioned fans. This particularly applies to those of a red persuasion. To the supporters, any bragging rights will be priceless come next Monday morning, so they want to see total commitment right from the first whistle.

For Arsenal, currently North London’s top dog, they have to start winning away. If they don’t turn around their form fast, they will find it very difficult to get into the top 4 this season. Arsene Wenger needs his team to find some consistency. If the Gunners were to record back-to-back victories, it would show some steadiness in his so far inconsistent side. Momentum is important to any team and although they probably have held it for much of the Premier League era, in the last four years Arsenal have struggled against Spurs.

The significance of the game for Tottenham will have the White Hart Lane faithful purring with excitement. They have the opportunity to record their fourth consecutive win in the league. They have only lost to Arsenal once in their last six league meetings and they’ll be desperate to continue that run. A win on Sunday would send a powerful message out for the season especially after their convincing victory against fellow Champions League challengers Liverpool.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Having Emmanuel Adebayor in his ranks is a feather in Harry Redknapp’s cap. He scored against Arsenal for Manchester City in 2009 and his celebration of that goal is part of the reason he will receive a fair amount of verbal abuse from the away support this weekend. That day at the City of Manchester stadium proves his ability in the face of adversity. The way he’s started at Spurs, the chances of him making his mark on Sunday look good.

They shouldn’t count out Arsenal’s strike force either, though. Robin van Persie demonstrated against Bolton why the Spurs defence cannot afford to take him lightly. Bagging a brace and in the process his 100th goal for the club, van Persie has definitely been a consistent threat in the Arsenal side during 2011.

Should Arsenal win at White Hart Lane on Sunday, it would be a massive result in the context of their season so far. It would scare away some of the encircling vultures around the future of Arsene Wenger. Ultimately even if the Gunners were to lose at the weekend, although it would be a tough blow, it wouldn’t represent a change in power.

If Tottenham displaced Arsenal in the Champions League, it would certainly signify a sizeable momentum shift in North London. Still, it’s hard to argue it would show the passing of the baton though. Spurs will need to finish above Arsenal for a few years before this can be declared and there’s a long way to go before that happens. However, a victory for Spurs on Sunday could be a watershed moment in this rivalry.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

FREE football ad that pays you to view ads

[ad_pod id=’qs-2′ align=’left’]

Bayern Munich are considering a January move for out of favour Chelsea winger Florent Malouda according to talkSPORT.

The Bundesliga giants were linked with a move for the 31-year-old in the summer and are now mulling over whether a bid when the transfer window re-opens.

Malouda’s future at Stamford Bridge has come into question over the last few weeks after the arrival of Juan Mata from Valencia with the Spaniard preferred in the line up by Andre Villas-Boas.

Mata’s early form in West London has been a shining light so far this season and could prove to be the death knell for the French midfielder.

The Portuguese coach stated he was looking to freshen up his squad with some younger faces and with Malouda now peering over the wrong side of 30 he could be sacrificed.

A move to the Allianz Arena could now be in the pipeline although they could face a fight from Italian sides Juventus and AC Milan who have also been credited with holding strong interest in the Frenchman.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Germans are desperate to capture their man and will be confident of beating both Serie A sides to Malouda’s signature who has been a consistent performer for Chelsea over the last three seasons.

West Bromwich Albion are the pride of the Black Country this evening after edging out Wolves 2-0, in what proved a pulsating derby.

The win was the Baggies first over Wolves in the top flight for some 29yrs and it sees Roy Hodgson leapfrog their great rivals in the table. This was Wolves 5th consecutive defeat and Mick McCarthy is under no illusions that they need to get out of this slump and quick.

Wolves actually started the game well and had the majority of possession throughout the first half, although West Brom was extremely dangerous on the counter attack. In fact it was the Baggies first attack in the game that brought the first goal of the afternoon as Chris Brunt fired in after good work from Billy Jones.

Mick McCarthy’s men huffed and puffed and yet a lack of quality in the final third cost them dear. Not for the first time Wolves have created chances but have been unable to convert them and how they must have looked on enviously at Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long.

The latter in particular had a fantastic game and although he was unable to find the net, proved a constant threat to the Wolves backline and gave Roger Johnson a tough afternoon.

West Brom were much improved in the second half and got control of the game and certainly looked the most likely to bag a second. It arrived duly 15mins from time when Peter Odemwingie drilled home after excellent work from Paul Scharner.

A 2-0 defeat was harsh on Wolves and manager Mick McCarthy was quick to point out that despite the five consecutive losses, the spirit in the camp is absolutely fine:

“There is nothing wrong with the Wolves spirit, effort and endeavour despite five defeats on the bounce. Spirit, effort and endeavour is always there but we need to be better in the box.”

The win however drags West Brom out of the bottom three for the first time this season and Roy Hodgson hailed their first home win of the season and their third clean sheet of the season:

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“It was a very important game and it was excellent to get our first home win of the season. It was also important to get our third clean sheet from eight games. That’s more than the two for the whole of last season.

“If we keep three clean sheets every eight, we’ll be fine.” (BBC)

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Puma Kings – a thing of beauty and a pair of football boots that could be on your feet very soon. We are giving you a chance to win a pair of Puma King Finale SG boots in our exclusive competition. Details of how to enter are below…

Bring a classic style to the pitch in the Puma King Finale SG as worn by legends such as Maradona and Eusebio. The Puma King Finale SG Mens Football Boots are designed for an exceptional touch, with a K-Leather upper for a more respsonsive feel along with a turn over tongue for an enlarged ball striking area allowing a cleaner contact when striking on goal and a stitch detail forefoot for enhanced close control and passing.

The Puma King Finale SG football boots also feature six interchangeable studs to the solid soleplate for better grip, traction and support on soft ground along with Puma AptoLast Technology, designed to mould around your foot for a more supportive fit, allowing you to perform consistently throughout the match.

To enter, all you need to do is ‘LIKE’ FootballFanCast on Facebook and type the below into your status:

[divider]

‘I just entered @FootballFanCast’s competition to win a pair of Puma Kings!’

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

That way, you’ll appear on our fanpage and we can see easily who’s in the running (copy and pasting it won’t work). Deadline November 11th.

Bolton defender Gary Cahill has had the red card he received against Tottenham on Saturday rescinded, and will not face a ban after successfully appealing the decision.

The England international was given a straight red for fouling Scott Parker in the first half of The Trotters’ 3-0 defeat at White Hart Lane, as referee Stuart Attwell adjudged him to have denied the hosts a goalscoring opportunity.

Both Owen Coyle and Harry Redknapp admitted that the dismissal was harsh after the result, and the Reebok Stadium outfit chose to appeal the decision.

The FA have confirmed that no ban will be forthcoming, in a boost for relegation candidates Bolton.

“Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill has had his claim for wrongful dismissal upheld,” an official statement reads.

“As a result, the one-match suspension handed to him has been withdrawn.

“Cahill had originally received a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday 3 December 2011.”

The dismissal was deemed as a mistake by many in the game, on the same weekend that Chelsea’s David Luiz was only given a yellow card for blatantly fouling Newcastle forward Demba Ba whilst through on goal.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

FREE football app that pays you CASH

[ad_pod id=’qs-2′ align=’left’]

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

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.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

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

[ffcvideo file=”tfcbtitle3″ type=”mp4″ image_type=”jpg”]

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]