The reasons for a team losing a game of football vary. Sometimes a team does not play well, sometimes they lose to a better side. But usually the manager does not take the blame, instead an outside influence is ‘at fault’.
Considering the amount of pressure managers are under these days, it is no surprise that they have to justify every loss with an exact reason. But when there is no reason, managers and players are often guilty of creating them out of thin air, and they have become very good at it.
In the list that follows are some of the most unlikely excuses and some of the most ridiculous excuses that have been used in the world of football.
[divider]
Click on Pepe Reina below to see the Top TEN
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Harry Redknapp has stated that Luka Modric will not be going anywhere in the January transfer window, and that his potential deal to move to Chelsea is dead.
The Stamford Bridge outfit made a number of bids for the Croatia international in the summer, with the playmaker speaking of his preference to leave White Hart Lane.
Despite this, due to Spurs’ good run of form, Redknapp believes that Modric no longer wants to move to Chelsea.
“I don’t expect Luka to want to go anywhere. I think the Chelsea deal is dead,” he told reporters at a press conference.
“He’s happy here. I don’t know where he’s at with his contract talks with the chairman, but I’m sure they’ll get something done.
“I don’t see there being a problem with Luka. No matter what Chelsea offer, he isn’t going. Not a chance.
“This is a good club. This is a club building a new stadium, a new training ground. It’s a club that’s going places.
“They’re both good clubs. We’ve closed the gap, definitely, on Arsenal and Chelsea from where we were. We’re now up there trying to finish above Arsenal for the second time in the Premier League.
“The potential is great, we sell out every week. We’ve got good players. I would love to see us perhaps make one big signing. That would really send out a message too,” he concluded.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Tottenham and Chelsea meet at White Hart Lane tonight.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks set to make Blackburn defender Christopher Samba his first signing of the Summer, according to the Daily Star.
The Congolese international has enjoyed a successful spell at Blackburn since his move from Hertha Berlin in January 2007 and played in 36 of Rovers’ League games this season.
Arsenal were also heavily linked with the player in January and Samba had been stripped of the club captaincy following his response to the rumours. With a January approached in the region of £6 million rebuffed, Wenger looks like making an increased offer of around £10 million.
Arsenal have struggled defensively this season with Belgium captain Thomas Vermaelen missing most of the campaign through injury and a commanding centre back is apparently high on Wenger’s shopping list.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Chelsea and Spurs were also rumoured to be watching the player earlier in the year but, with neither to make a move yet, it seems Arsenal could be leading the race for his signature.
Aston Villa have confirmed the arrival of Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given on a five-year contract.The 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international completed a medical at Villa Park over the weekend before finalising his move on Monday for an undisclosed fee, becoming Alex McLeish’s first signing as club manager.
Given joined City in 2009 but found himself play second fiddle behind Joe Hart last English Premier League season, and the lure of first-team football was something that attracted him to the Midlands club.
“Aston Villa is a huge football club and I’m really excited to be joining,” Given told the club’s official website.
“I’m looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They’re a good bunch of lads, very talented and I know several of them already which will help.”
“Everyone knows that I didn’t play enough football last season, so I’m really pleased that I’ll be able to put that right here. Hopefully, this move will get me back to where I was before in the Premier League, which is where every player wants to be playing.”
Before moving to City, Given enjoyed the best times of his career at Newcastle United, making 462 appearances.
Rather than be second choice at City, however, he chose the challenge of moving to Villa and working under their new manager.
“Obviously, I’m also excited to be working with Alex McLeish and it’s going to be a fresh start for everybody at the club this season,” he said.
“It’s also a new challenge and one I’m eager to embrace. My aim is to impress the Aston Villa supporters with my performances and I can’t wait really to get started.”
Following the departure of Brad Friedel to Tottenham in June, McLeish found himself without an experienced number one and moved quickly to secure the services of the Ireland international
“Shay has come here probably with something of a point to prove and that won’t do any harm at all,” McLeish added.
“Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business.”
“He’s a real competitor and a world-class keeper and I’m delighted he’s the first signing I’ve made at Villa.”
Resurgent Everton go in search of a third successive Premier League win against Stoke City at Goodison Park that will take to within touching distance of the top six.
The Toffee’s have been in superb form of late winning three from their last five and soaring up the table into ninth to put their poor start to the season behind them. David Moyes’ side enjoyed victories over Bolton and Wolves in recent weeks with both results proving to be huge confidence boosters going into the unrelenting festive period. Everton were languishing near the relegation zone at this point last season after an inconsistent start to the season that only picked up in the new year. There was the thought that similar events would transpire during the current campaign but the last few week’s have put paid to that theory with the Merseysiders now chasing a place in the top six. Admittedly their start was slow and with little investment in the playing squad along with the sale of Mikel Arteta giving the critics ammunition to write them off before the season had a chance to get going. The performances of key players like Leighton Baines, captain Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman alongside youngsters Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and Marouane Fellaini have given hope to the Toffee’s supporters that they can have a successful season even after losing Arteta to Arsenal in the summer. Whilst scoring goals has been a problem, talisman Tim Cahill has yet to score in 2011, they’ve evolved their game and ground out results which will come in handy against a physical Stoke side.
A win against Blackburn was the The Potters first since mid-October with their 2-0 victory over Fulham followed by a run of five straight defeats that threatened to derail their season. Tony Pulis’ men have struggled to marry the Europa League and their domestic form together with fatigue visibly apparent in the squad. However after a break from jet setting around Europe Stoke look invigorated and were a class above against Rovers last Saturday with that 3-1 win lifting them away from the drop zone and into 12th. Renowned for their industrious approach and strong arm tactics Pulis’ side have been out battled in recent weeks with home defeats agains Newcastle and QPR highlighting their weaknesses. However they were back to their bruising best last week with summer signing Peter Crouch leading the charge with a commanding performance up front. The England man hasn’t been the regular supplier of goals many thought he would be but he exhibited great balance and technique for his fifth strike of the season and finally put in the sort of display expected of a target man who cost a club record £10 million. More importantly for Pulis his defence, which has been taken apart in recent weeks, stood firm and will have seen their confidence levels rise after a commanding performance . Taking on Everton will pose a challenge on a whole different level to that of Blackburn and the Potters will need to be at their best if they are to record their first win at Goodison Park since 1981.
Everton – 9th
Last Five: Won 2-0 v Bolton (A), Won 2-1 v Wolves (H), Lost 2-1 v Newcastle (A), Lost 1-0 v Manchester United (H), Won 3-1 v Fulham (A)
Potential Starting X11: 24. T. Howard 2. T. Hibbert 5. J. Heitinga 6. P. Jagielka [C] 3. L. Baines* 23. S. Coleman 26. J. Rodwell 17. T. Cahill 7. D Bilyaletdinov 11. R. Drenthe 8. L. Saha
Injury News: Jack Rodwell is out after missing last week’s win over Bolton whilst Sylvain Distin will also miss the visit of Stoke on Sunday.
Key Player: Leighton Baines
Despite never getting the plaudits he deserves the England defender has been Everton’s standout player over the last month and was instrumental in their win over Bolton last week. His exploits down the left wing and pinpoint crossing saw him have a helping hand in both of the Toffee’s goals and he’ll be expected to offer a similar supply against Stoke.
Match Fact: Everton enjoy playing against Stoke winning four and drawing three of their last 10 meetings. The Toffee’s were unbeaten in five against the Potters before January’s 2-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke – 12th
Last Five: Won 3-1 v Blackburn, Lost 3-2 v QPR (H) Lost 5-0 v Bolton (A), Lost 3-1 v Newcastle (H), Lost 3-1 v Arsenal (A)
Potential Starting X11: 29. T. Sorensen 28. A. Wilkinson 17. R. Shawcross [C] 4. Robert Huth 12. M. Wilson 16. J. Pennant 6. G. Whelan 24. R. Delap 18. D. Whitehead 19. J. Walters 25. P. Crouch*
Injury News: Tony Pulis will be without Matthew Etherington who has a back injury whilst Mamady Sidibie is out long-term with a knee tendon problem.
Key Player: Peter Crouch
A run of one goal in his last five brought about questions over whether the former Tottenham striker had lost his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premier League. He answered his doubters in style last week with a commanding performance up front weighing in with Stoke’s third goal in a comprehensive win over Blackburn. His aerial battle with England colleague Jagielka will be one to watch.
Match Fact: Stoke have beaten Everton just the once since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2008. They’d gone five games without beating the Toffee’s before a 2-0 success in January of this year.
Last Time at Goodison Park
Premier League 30 October 2010
Everton 1-0 Stoke City
Yakubu, 67
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Attendance: 35,513
Referee: Lee Probert
PREDICTION
Everton are resurgent at the moment and will be confident of securing a third straight Premier League win against Stoke on Sunday. Moyes’s side have been in superb form of late losing narrowly at Newcastle and Manchester United before they beat Wolves at Goodison Park a fortnight ago. Stoke on the other hand ended a dreadful run of four straight defeats with a win over beleaguered Blackburn. The Potters have won once on the road this season and will have to be on top form to take something away from the blue half of Merseyside.
Eredivisie strugglers Willem II won for the first time in eight matches as they stunned AZ Alkmaar 2-1 on Saturday.Having conceded 17 goals in their last three matches, John Feskens’ squad entered the game with little confidence against an AZ side who sit fourth and are battling it out for a place in Europe.
But an early goal was just what Willem II needed, with Andreas Lasnik’s fifth-minute effort giving the hosts an early lead.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson equalised for AZ on the half-hour mark, but Lasnik was determined to be the difference, turning provider for Evgeniy Levchenko to score the winner after 62 minutes.
AZ defender Hector Alfredo Moreno was sent off in the dying stages as Willem II celebrated just their third win of the season.
Mads Junker made it five goals in two games after he snared a double in Roda JC’s 5-1 win over NAC Breda.
Junker joined Jimmy Hempte and Morten Skoubo as first-half scorers for the victors, although Joonas Kolkka pulled one back for NAC on the stroke of half-time.
But Junker’s second – from the spot – was then followed by Anouar Hadouir’s goal 11 minutes later which sealed the win, with Roda JC having now scored 19 goals in their last five matches as they have risen to fifth on the table.
In other matches, strikes from Everton and Willy Overtoom gave Heracles a 2-0 home win against De Graafschap while a late Ruud Boymans equaliser ensured VVV Venlo shared the points with Heerenveen in a 2-2 draw.
The Daily Telegraph are reporting that Chelsea are set to make a £17.5 million bid for Porto wing back.
New boss Andre Villas-Boas is interested in bringing the 25-year-old Uruguayan to Stamford Bridge as he looks to stamp his mark on the team.
The Portuguese coach was Pereira’s boss at Porto last season and the pair could be reunited in West London.
However the Primeira Liga champions value the Uruguay international at around £26 million after his star performances in the Copa America.
They have already signed a replacement in the form of £8.3 million Alex Sandro from Santos but aren’t willing to let one of their key players leave on the cheap.
Villas-Boas is keen to fill the gap left by the recently departed Yuri Zhirkov and held talks last month only to back away when hearing of Porto’s demands.
The Chelsea boss keen to bring a player in from his former club as they understand the way he works.
It will certainly leave question marks hanging over the head of some players in the current squad.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
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 33-year-old coach could sacrifice the like of Alex, Joe Boswinga and John Obi Mikel to raise the funds capable of bringing Pereira to the club.
With all the foreign superstars scattered among Premiership clubs it’s refreshing to see young British footballers being thrust into first team action throughout the league. There’s no better baptism than having the opportunity to pit your wits against the likes of Gerrard, Terry, Vidic and Fabregas. It’s exactly what a young professional needs in his quest for a successful career. More and more gifted young players are coming off the academy conveyor belts throughout the league and, as far as Newcastle United are concerned, the latest addition to this trend is Shane Ferguson.
Ferguson, now a full Northern Ireland international, started his career at his hometown club Derry City, before joining Newcastle’s youth academy in 2007 as a 16 year old. Ferguson made his first team debut last August in a League Cup encounter with Accrington Stanley. He has only featured four more times since then, most recently as an impressive substitute in place of Jose Enrique against Everton and Stoke. With the Spaniard’s participation in the impending fixture with Wolves in doubt Ferguson could yet be called into action for the crunch clash on Saturday. Once more, Enrique’s future at the club is currently in limbo amidst rumours he is waiting until the Magpies assure their Premiership status before entering negotiations on a new contract. It is also rumoured that Kenny Daglish is monitoring Enrique’s situation; Ferguson’s time may well be nigh.
Regardless if Ferguson steps into any potential breach left by Enrique this summer, going on his latest cameo performances he appears to have the ability to materialise into a fan’s favourite in the North East. Ferguson produced the only real memorable moment of any significance as far as Toon fans were concerned in the 4-0 drubbing at The Britannia. He announced himself to the Geordie faithful with a superb dribble in which he deceived three Stoke players before placing his shot into the grateful arms of Asmir Begovic. If the young Irishman can reproduce moments of magic of that ilk on a regular basis then his prospective future in the famous black and white stripes appears bright.
[ad_pod id=’unruly’ align=’right’]
Former Newcastle left back John Beresford was part of Kevin Keegan’s entertainers in the ’90s and he knows the attributes required to be a success at St James’ Park. In an interview with The Evening Chronicle Beresford was optimistic about Ferguson’s potential. He was quoted as saying “Shane’s got pace and movement, he works the ball and likes to take people on, one-on-one. With all of that at his disposal I think he could go a lot further in the game.” Whether or not you rate Beresford’s opinion as credible or not is a matter of choice, but what is true is that Ferguson has caught the eye on Tyneside recently and he may well be one to look out for.
Newcastle’s academy isn’t distinguished with producing an array of stars, and when placed alongside academies such as West Ham’s and Manchester United’s it is outshone. Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor are the only notable products of the academy in the last decade that I can recollect, this isn’t a great return and one the club may well need to address. So does the early promise shown by Ferguson represent a change to this habit? Well that remains to be seen. Ferguson has only represented the first team on five occasions so we can only speculate on whether or not he will progress into a first team regular.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
In my opinion the early promise of one player isn’t enough evidence to suggest that there is a high calibre of top quality youngsters waiting in the wings at Newcastle. Nor does it confirm or deny that Shane Ferguson will have a bright future at the club, or indeed in the game. What is evident is that the youngster has raised a few eyebrows on Tyneside with his performances and any future he has in the game is down to his own hard work, commitment and desire.
Bolton’s club doctor Jonathan Tobin has admitted that he has had conversations with Fabrice Muamba, and the midfielder has stated that he is fine.
The former England under-21 international collapsed on the White Hart Lane pitch last weekend in the Potters’ FA Cup game with Tottenham, and had to be rushed to hospital.
With his life in the balance, Tobin revealed that Muamba needed 15 shocks to get his heart started again, but that the player is making progress.
“I’m glad to say that the early signs of recovery have continued,” the medical man told reporters, recorded by Sky Sports.
“I went to see Fabrice last night. I went in and he said ‘Hi, doc.’ I asked him how he was and he said ‘Fine’.”
“I explained to him what had happened. That’s the sort of level of communication I have had with Fabrice,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry jetted back to the United Kingdom to visit Muamba, and after spending an hour with the ill man also felt that his health was improving.
“Leaving back to America – Fabrice is getting a lot better which is fantastic. I will let you know more when I’m back in the US,” he stated on his Twitter page.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Newcastle eased their relegation worries but intensified Wolverhampton?s with a 4-1 win at St James? Park.The home side had the first chance after just five minutes after Joey Barton was fouled by George Elokobi in his own half. The midfielder picked himself up to float in a deep free kick that Mike Williamson headed towards the bottom corner only for Wayne Hennessey to palm the ball away.
Hennessey was in the right place at the right time again, as Barton found Kevin Nolan with another free kick but the captain?s header was directed straight at the Wolves stopper.
Hennessey was finally beaten on 22 minutes after Williamson’s free kick from well inside his own half was flicked on by Ameobi to find Kevin Nolan, who ghosted between both centre halves and poked the ball through the goalkeeper?s legs.
Newcastle doubled their lead just before half-time when Peter Lovenkrands crossed from the left and Ameobi rose highest to power home a header.
The hosts had a pair of chances to kill the game off after the interval. Barton’s shot from six yards was deflected wide, and Lovenkrands hit the post from a tight angle after going around Hennessey.
Lovenkrands did not have to wait much longer to get his name on the scoresheet, however. Fabricio Coloccini did well to steal the ball on the halfway line before feeding Barton, who crossed for the Dane to complete the move.
Wolves found a way back into the game on the hour mark, with England winger Matt Jarvis crossing for Sylvain Ebanks-Blake on the edge of the six yard box to steer past Steve Harper.
But it was a case of too little too late, as Newcastle added insult to injury with a fourth goal in injury time by Jonas Gutierrez.