Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is determined to try and force his way back into Wigan Athletic's first team, having lost his place following a dismal start to the new season.
The 29-year-old was dropped after shipping ten goals in two games, with loanee Ali Al Habsi being given the nod by manager Roberto Martinez.
A defiant Kirkland told the Wigan Observer:"It's the first time I've ever been in this situation in all the time I've been playing, but I'm no different to everyone else.
"There are much better players than me who have been left out of the team and have had to work their way back in. I'm no special case or anything like that.
"I've always had to work very hard to stay in the team and now I'm not I know I'll have to work even harder to get back in there.
"It's hard not playing, of course it is, but I know that I didn't play well enough to deserve to stay in the team.
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"And I've always said that it doesn't matter who you are – if you're not playing well enough, there are people here who will come in and take your place."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has admitted that he will consider leaving Old Trafford in search of regular first-team football.
The 28-year-old has been with the Red Devils for just over four years, but has made only 55 appearances due to the form of Dutch veteran Edwin van der Sar.
England hopeful Ben Foster quit United for Birmingham City in the summer and Kuszczak is pondering a similar move with a place in Poland's future plans also in his mind.
He told the Manchester Evening News:"I could understand Ben's position. He wanted to move because he wanted regular football and he wanted to play for England.
"If I don't get enough games I will have to do the same as Ben. The years are going by and I will be 29 after this season – I want to enjoy football and I want to play.
"I want to play for my country and if you don't get enough games you don't get promoted to the national team.
"The key to the national team is to play more and more for your club and that is why I want more matches for United.
"The European Championship in 2012 is in Poland and it is very important for me to be there and play for my country.
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"It happens once in about 20 or 30 years that a competition like this is in your country, so I am going to do everything to be in this tournament.
"I have to play regularly at club level and play well if I am to be in the squad for 2012."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The body language of Liverpool striker Fernando Torres had been widely criticised in recent weeks as the Reds picked up just six points from their opening seven Premier League games of the new season.
The Spanish striker remains an isolated and frustrated figure as the focal point of Roy Hodgson’s side, one which is still gelling and adjusting to a new style of play under the former Fulham man. Following a dismal World Cup marred by niggling injuries, Torres has scored just once this season and has found chances limited given the distinct lack of service he is currently receiving.
The hitman’s attitude on the pitch has also been widely criticised, with former club captain Jamie Redknapp questioning the player’s hunger, desire and passion to play for Liverpool. On the flip side, Torres is still returning to full fitness following a series of injuries and will take time to hit top form. Despite his current lack of goals, the attacker has turned provider in recent weeks, setting up his side’s last four goals before limping off in the early stages of the Merseysider’s shock defeat to Blackpool last weekend.
Yet the media and opposition coaches continue to focus on the player’s perceived negative body language. They claim it’s a sign that the player no longer wants to remain at the club, something picked up by one Premier League assistant manager who wanted to remain anonymous. He told the Daily Mail:
“People talk about body language and as a coach it is something you look for.
“I have to say, with Torres it stands out a mile at the moment. It’s just not right.
“The question is, is it because he is unfit or because he feels he doesn’t want to be there?”
It seems unlikely that so early into the new season that the former Atletico captain is already regretting his decision to commit his immediate future to the club. If anything, you could say that the clinical striker, along with Steven Gerrard, cares too much about their side’s worrying form. Both players have let their frustrations and anger boil over on the pitch in recent weeks, something which clearly has started to affects the duo’s performances. They should instead focus on the challenge of dragging Liverpool up the league and not let their disappointment affect what they are striving to achieve on the pitch.
In a world of media scrutiny, constant spotlight and over-analysis on everything a player says and does, the best thing both Gerrard and Torres can do is to attempt to keep their emotions in check. Clearly body language is regularly picked up upon; while expert Tonya Reiman believes a player’s mannerisms and the gestures they use on the field of play can be an important factor in sporting success.
“This is extremely important in sports,” Reiman said, referring to body language.
“If you’re trying to work together, you need some kind of rapport. You show rapport through body language.”
Bad body language is continually interpreted as a sign that a player is unhappy with his current situation. Gerrard’s perplexed shake of the head after Torres was substituted against Birmingham last season was highlighted as an indication that former manager Rafael Benitez had lost the dressing room and was no longer trusted by his players. For Torres, it could also be a sign of his own unhappiness with his current form or concerns over his fitness.
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Players’ body language will continued to be analysed, and while it does give an insight to a player’s emotional state, it can often be misinterpreted or sensationalised. Torres will hope to end the debate surrounding his state of mind by getting back to best and start scoring the goals that are expected from one of the world’s finest players. We then may just see a slightly happier glow emanating from El Nino.
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Manchester United are reportedly set to follow Wayne Rooney's new contract with an improved deal for Patrice Evra.
The France full-back is set to be offered a new four-year, £100,000 per week deal to remain at Old Trafford.
Last week a previously unsettled Rooney performed a dramatic U-turn after signing a new five-year deal worth a reported £200,000 per week.
Evra joined United from Monaco in 2006 and has made over 200 first-team appearances for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, Evra is looking forward to returning to international football following a five-match ban.
The 29-year-old former international captain was one of several players who were suspended by the French Football Federation following a turbulent World Cup in South Africa.
"I experienced some very difficult moments," he said."It remains a scar and it will only disappear when I wear the shirt again.
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"My ban is almost finished, so I am highly motivated and it gives me desire to be at my best.
"I will play for my country until my legs won't allow it or the national coach doesn't call me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez is happy with midfielder James McCarthy's progress, as he continues his recovery from a serious ankle injury.
The 22-year-old has been sidelined for nearly a month and is expected to be challenging for a return in late January after undergoing a recent operation.
Martinez told the club's official website:"James has progressed a lot over the last few days in his post-surgery phase. The ankle has reacted very well to the treatment, which we're delighted with.
"Probably after Friday we'll start working on the active part of his recovery, but all the signs are that the surgery was a success and we're excited to see how the ankle is going to progress over the coming weeks.
"It's too difficult to say exactly when he'll return, but I'm looking at around the third week in January as a guide.
"At the moment we're working day-to-day and making sure things are strengthening as they should.
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"We need to make sure that when he does return he is fresh and excited to be playing again and obviously that he has benefitted from all the work we're doing with him during this time."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Steven Pienaar is looking increasingly likely to leave Goodison Park as efforts to persuade him to sign a £60,000 a week deal are failing.
David Moyes has resigned himself to losing the South African either for a small fee in January or on a free next summer when his current contract runs out despite trying everything to persuade him to stay at the club.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is reportedly convinced that he has won the race for Pienaar, beating the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal to his services.
Moyes has been on the lookout for a replacement for the past six months and still harbours hopes of persuading Landon Donovan back to the club for a second loan spell.
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Everton have had a mixed season so far and currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League. They will be hoping to build on their 1-1 draw at Chelsea when they face Wigan at Goodison on Saturday.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Darren Fletcher has blasted claims by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that he is a 'dirty player'.
The Scottish international's approach to the game was questioned by Wenger after United's win over the Gunners last season, but his comments have been venomously rejected by the player.
United face Arsenal again at Old Trafford on Monday night and Fletcher has no intention of changing his combative style as a result of the Frenchman's past remarks about him.
"Things are said in the heat of the moment and I would rather not dwell on it," said Fletcher.
"I don't think I'm a dirty player, I know I'm not a dirty player.
"I go to win the ball and sometimes you give away fouls doing that, but it's not malicious. It's all part of the British game.
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"The referees here use a lot of common sense and they know when players are generally trying to win the ball and those going out to hurt people."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The Premier League fixture at The Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and Chelsea is a huge one. It is a chance for Chelsea to put their dismal Premier League run to an end, while Arsenal have an opportunity to dispel the stat that they simply can’t win against their Premiership title contenders. It is a match where Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti will need their big players to stand up and be counted, but which players will be the ones to watch?
Choosing your Picklive trio for the Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE fantasy football match is no easy prospect. Both the Gunners and the Blues are littered with top performers, but you can only pick three players for your fantasy football team, so who should they be. If you think Arsenal will triumph, then there are two Gunners that simply have to be in your selection.
Samir Nasri has been one of the Premier League players of the season. Although he was disappointing against Manchester United at Old Trafford, he has still had an outstanding season and helped Arsenal prevail more than once this season, most notably against Fulham at The Emirates. The Frenchman has racked up an average of 66 Picklive points this season, which makes him Arsenal’s top scorer.
Second in that list is Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. It could be argued that the Spaniard hasn’t lit the Premier League alight this season, with patchy form not helped by injuries, but Fabregas is still Arsenal’s key player. He has netted an average of 64 points this season and would love nothing more than to guide Arsenal to a win against Chelsea, with the Blues having embarrassed the Gunners in recent outings.
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Much of this has been due to the powerful performances of Didier Drogba, who has simply outmuscled the Arsenal defence on more than one occasion. This Arsenal defence is still without long-term absentee Thomas Vermaelen, so selecting Drogba could be a good idea as he’s likely to give the Gunners backline a torrid time yet again.
Michael Essien has been Chelsea’s most consistent performer this season, but I’d be inclined to select the returning Frank Lampard in my trio. Lampard is most certainly a big game player and he’ll be eager to show Chelsea fans just what they’ve been missing over the last couple of months. Lampard netting the winner in a Chelsea victory; it isn’t hard to see that happening, is it?
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So for the Arsenal v Chelsea LIVE fantasy football match I’d select Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard in my Picklive Trio, but who would you select?
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Palermo scraped past lowly Brescia 1-0 in Serie A on Saturday courtesy of a late strike from defender Cesare Bovo, while Parma and Roma also won.
The hosts at Stadio Renzo Barbera dominated possession, with relegation-placed Brescia appearing to have few ideas going forward.
But it looked that Brescia would pick up the point they came for before Bovo’s free-kick curled past Brescia goalkeeper Michele Arcari in the 87th minute to move Palermo into seventh place on the table and equal on points with Juventus.
Two goals in the space of five second-half minutes was all Parma required to beat Catania at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Antonio Candreva opened the scoring in the 57th minute before Sebastian Giovinco secured the win in the 62nd minute.
Roma moved to second on the table with a 3-0 triumph over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico.
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Francesco Totti put his side ahead in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot, before Simone Perrotta scored in the 70th minute and substitute Jeremy Menez topped off the win with a goal late on.
Having had two days to consider the ludicrousity (yes, the events that transpired deserve their very own word) of what happened in Newcastle on Saturday, I have now made peace with the fact that no logical explanation will suffice: irrespective of a sending off, an injury, poor refereeing decisions and individual mistakes, there is simply no defence for losing a four goal lead.
But the optimists amongst Arsenal fans can also view this weekend as one which saw the deficit at the top of the Premier League table diminish. All is far from lost. And although logic might not provide the best arena to deconstruct Arsenal’s startling tendency for self combustion, a big question needs to be asked: at what point is this the players’ responsibility and not Arsene Wenger’s?
I have read countless comments from fans recycling the same anti-Wenger gambits when crucial losses occur or leads are relinquished: the team is his and therefore he should take ownership of their shortcomings. But what is certainly interesting from a neutral’s perspective is just how much Wenger is made culpable for his players’ mistakes. He appears, in my eyes anyway, to shoulder a greater burden than most managers when his team is publicly scrutinised.
I can understand the reasons for this: the evident conflagration of Wenger’s and Arsenal’s ideology, his obstinate adherence to a set of sporting and economic principles, and a fan base who invariably understand the magnitude of funding a new stadium whilst mounting a consistent challenge for silverware domestically and abroad. His is a unique circumstance in so far as everyone involved in football understand it to be a personal ideology which has translated into a club’s identity.
So, yes, I can see why there are those who hold him absolutely responsible. But in games against Tottenham or Wigan this season alone and, in particular, the extraordinary events of Saturday; what is he to do? The defensive frailties of the squad fall under his responsibility, there is no doubt about that, but the twenty-two minute collapse exhibited at St James’ Park is another matter entirely. The frustration of coming so far with this team, seeing the likes of Nasri, Song and Wilshere evolve, making telling strides (defeating Chelsea this season was one such significant moment), only to relapse into inexplicable periods of madness and hysteria is perhaps most upsetting for Wenger (and Arsenal fans).
The truth is that any team is an extension, and reflection, of its manager. And Arsenal’s continuing penchant for losing concentration is an unmistakable indictment on Arsene Wenger’s inability to instil ruthlessness into his group of players. However there also comes a point – like on Saturday – where the events that unfold are so unbelievable and perplexing that I can’t help but share Wenger’s frustration and simply ask the players (all experienced players, too): is this really the manager’s fault?
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