Liverpool have confirmed that they have signed a new kit deal with Warrior Sports, after Adidas decided not to renew their contract with the Merseyside club.
Adidas have revealed that the Anfield side’s lack of success in recent seasons prompted them to walk away from Kenny Dalglish’s men.
“We thought what Liverpool were asking and what they were delivering was not in the right balance,” CEO Herbert Hainer is reported to have said in The Daily Mail.
“There was a gap between their performance on the field and what the numbers should be.
“It all depends on the success and the effort and the popularity, the exposure on TV and revenue you can generate by merchandising.
“This all has to be brought in line between what you offer and what you get. We thought what Liverpool were asking was not… right, then we said we will not do it – that’s the end of the story,” he concluded.
Despite this, Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre responded to the criticism, and feel that Adidas’ have been shortsighted.
“We are disappointed Adidas seem to point to a lack of European football as a reason not to agree a new deal, and cannot see that we are on a par with the biggest football brands in the world,” he commented.
The Reds new deal with Warrior Sports is said to be worth £150million, and will last for six years.
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Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has denied reports that he has been in contact with any other Serie A clubs.Mazzarri announced before his side’s 2-1 loss at 10-man Lecce that he could walk away at the end of the season which led to speculation that he had already been speaking to Juventus about taking over in Turin.
But after Napoli slumped to a third defeat in four, Mazzarri cleared the air on the rumours and said he would reevaluate his situation at the end of the season.
“As with every year, we need to sit round a table and understand if there are the conditions to begin a new campaign together. It’s what I have always done in my career,” Mazzarri said.
“We didn’t know that we were going to reach the Champions League, so now I don’t know what is going to be expected of us. If we finish third or fourth it will change the scenario.”
“I swear that I have not been in contact with any other club. I have to talk to Napoli first and that will be at the end of the season. If this rapport comes to an end, then we’ll see.”
Napoli still need one point from their final two matches to secure third position, which would see them enter the Champions League at the group stage next season, leaving Mazzarri to bemoan the defeat.
“We were naive and certain incidents proved decisive. Lecce managed to win with a great shot at the end. It was a tense encounter, but this is football,” he said.
Napoli’s cause was made harder when top-scorer Edinson Cavani was given a second yellow card after 74 minutes, and Mazzarri admitted the 24-year-old was a ‘little tired’ and driven by the chance to win the league’s Golden Boot.
That now seems unlikely after Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale scored a double on Sunday to take his tally to 28 league goals for the season, two ahead of Cavani.
Napoli midfielder Christian Maggio also was disappointed with the defeat, but hopes his side can wrap up third when they face Inter on Sunday.
“Yes, that was definitely not the Napoli team we’ve seen in recent games, we certainly wanted to win in order to secure the third position but today it didn’t happen; now we only need to look ahead and think about next Sunday,” Maggio said.
“We thought we would cause them more problems and we knew Lecce needed a victory to remain in Serie A next year so it was a very important game for them too. In some parts of the game we were playing well and we had some good opportunities, but today we didn’t have much luck.”
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan gave their opinion on Wayne Rooney; on his current form, and the causes relating to the media circus surrounded his jaded life at the moment. Sir Alex spoke of Rooney finally coming to terms with just how much interest he is to the country’s press, while Keegan chose to question Rooney’s decisions regarding endorsements i.e. he should take the rough with the smooth.
Ferguson did not come out and blame the media. He is far too wily and long in the tooth to think that would have any positive effect on the situation. By proclaiming that anyone put under that sort of intense, public scrutiny would show signs of weakness, he was perhaps asking the press to give the country’s most gifted player a little breathing space. Ferguson said:
“I don’t think the boy can turn a corner at the moment without a camera on him. He can’t move without the paparazzi being on him and, for a young person that is not what you want.
“You want to play and enjoy your football without that attention on you, because that can be quite exhausting. He would like to keep playing with freedom, but the siege of the tabloids can wear out anyone.”
For Rooney, the constant nag of paparazzi is nothing new to him. Since being propelled onto the Premier League stage, barely out of school, his entire life has had it’s very own public diary as we have become obsessed with his mercurial talent. The fact that that same attention has only increased after the allegations made, is of no shock to us, and should be even less of a surprise to the man himself.
Kevin Keegan was on ESPN when he regarded that Rooney should be fully prepared to take the hits from the media, after courting their attention throughout his career:
“You can’t then turn around and say there’s too much paparazzi around or too much publicity.
“You can’t have all the contracts, sell your wedding to magazines and things like this, and suddenly say, ‘That’s the tap I want to turn on but we want to turn the other one off’.
Although I don’t make a habit of agreeing with Keegan on the opinions he has (not out of spite, just common sense really), I can see where he is coming from. Whether any of the allegations made are true or not is pretty irrelevant – certainly to us, not to him or his family – the fact is that they exist, true or not. When agreeing to virtually every commercial deal humanly possible: Nokia, Ford, Asda, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, plus a five-book deal over twelve years (obviously there is the contract with Nike, but I see no problem with sportsmen being endorsed by sports brands), one must also accept that there will be reasons that put you in the variety of media we have access to toady, that you may not be happy with.
I don’t blame Rooney for agreeing to every contract that has been thrust in his face. I can only imagine he has agreed to things he sees as harmless, and financially lucrative, while just wanting to carry on with playing football. For most of the media appearances he makes, he seems quite reluctant, although he is getting better, and would rather be somewhere else.
I can’t remember Rooney ever looking as downcast as he does at the moment. As an England fan, and a fan of football in general, I want to see Rooney playing at his best, because it is such an amazing thing to behold. Ferguson would love the press to leave him alone, but knows he’s is flogging a dead horse in any attempt to try and prevent the attention from laying off. Keegan himself has struggled with the media attention, particularly while in charge of England, and has his own point to make, one that holds some validity.
If Rooney is guilty of any marital misdemeanours then he has brought this problem unto himself, and it is really only he that can find a way out of it. What doesn’t help is the frighteningly good form he was in previous to this slump. Being a professional player, to the level that Rooney has reached, means playing the game in the right way, and by game I mean the entire package that goes along with the time on the pitch. I for one hope his skills off the pitch can reach a level close to what he is capable of on it.
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Do you agree with Fergie? Or Keegan? Or neither?
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Aston Villa have announced that they have finalised the loan signing of Robbie Keane.
The veteran Republic of Ireland striker is available due to the break in the MLS season, and will move to the Birmingham-based outfit from LA Galaxy until February 25th.
Keane could be in line to face current team-mate Landon Donovan in his debut as Alex McLeish’s men take on Everton on Saturday, and the Irish forward is looking forward to getting started.
“I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League. This is only short term, of course, but there has been a lot of speculation over the years linking my name to Villa and, finally, I’m here,” he told the club’s official website.
“I’m excited about it and I know I’ll really enjoy my time here. It’s only for two months but I will do my absolute best in these two months.
“Villa is a great club, a club with a massive tradition and standing in the game and Villa Park is one of the finest stadiums I’ve ever played in.
“If selected to play on Saturday, I will genuinely be looking forward to it and I’ll be excited to be involved again in Premier League action.
“I’ve been training with the players here for the past few days and it’s been great but I’m not naive enough to think I’ll just walk straight into the team.
“If I can help and contribute to the overall effort of the team then hopefully I will be of benefit to Aston Villa. That’s my aim,” he concluded.
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Argentina have been drawn in Group F alongside England, Mexico, Korea DPR for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia later this year.The tournament will run from July 29 to August 20, with Argentina, who have won the trophy five of the last eight times, expected to be in the tournament right until the business end.
Argentina’s chances of victory are boosted by the fact that defending champion Ghana, who beat Brazil 4-3 in penalties in the 2009 tournament in Canada, failed to qualify.
Walter Perazzo’s side may face a serious threat in England, early in the tournament, while Korea DPR will be no easy beats themselves, having beaten Australia 3-2 in the AFC Under-19 Championship in China last year.
Brazil, considered another favourite, will open the competition against Egypt in Barranquilla, with the two other sides in Group E being Austria and Panama.
Only one of the 24 countries in the tournament is unconfirmed, with either New Zealand or the Solomon Islands to make up the numbers when they clash in the OFC U-20 Championship Final at North Harbour Stadium on Friday. The winner will be in Group B.
United’s draw against Fulham came in such a manner that for many it actually seemed like a loss. However as the ever-chatty Mickey Phelan stated: “It was points dropped not a match lost.” So what did United’s draw at Craven Cottage tells us this weekend? The obvious one would be that Paul Scholes is like a fine wine/ the best midfielder in PL history/the only cool ginger man on the planet- but I already covered that following the Newcastle game so I won’t bother repeating it. However there was much to ascertain from Sunday’s game-4-4-2 could be the new 4-5-1 and Fergie still loves the BBC are just a couple of points that became evident, here’s five things we learnt.
1. 4-4-2 is back in fashion. Okay, so United didn’t win, sorry for stating the bleeding obvious, but one thing was as clear as the penalty not given against Nemanja Vidic- Dimitar Berbatov should not be dropped. Despite not being a clinical as he perhaps should be, the Bulgarian has started the season well and deserves to be playing regularly- or at the very least given a decent run. With Wayne Rooney hopefully off his toilet very soon then we should see him linking up with Berbatov to form the sort of strike partnership that United fans have been hoping for since the former Spurs striker shook hands with Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford- as Sky Sports went into hysterics at the ‘exclusive pictures.’ It’s not just Berbatov that makes sticking with the more traditionally United formation of 4-4-2 seem logical – Michael Carrick and Anderson would arguably not bring more to the team if they were brought in at the number 9’s expense. There’s a case to be made that even if Berbatov is not fit then Chicharito should be given a chance as part of a front two. If Scholes does need a rest, which although unfortunate is inevitable, then one of the aforementioned midfield men could come in and do the job, but switching to 4-5-1 for the big games, which was the norm last season, is looking like becoming a thing of the past.
2.There is a Plan B after Wazza. Okay so United didn’t win- and I assure you that’s the last time I’m going to say that, but they did score goals- sort of-and do enough at least attacking wise to win the game. Usually two goals would see United beat nearly any team. It’s easy to look at the Reds failure to take all three points and turn it into a simple equation United minus Rooney equals no win. However it wasn’t the bug riddled scousers absence that cost United all three points it was defensive lapses -and the penalty miss, which I’ll get to later. Hopefully United players can take solace from the fact that despite missing out on what would have been a cracking win, and despite there being room for improvement, they still performed better, scored more goals and took more from the game than they have in the previous two seasons.
3. West Ham need to suffer. With Chelsea destroying teams with aplomb and the struggling Hammers at OT in United’s next fixture it’s an ideal opportunity to show the Champions that they’re not the only ones who can take apart teams. The United chant “we often score six but we seldom score ten” is in danger of becoming synonymous with the Chelsea side. However while I don’t expect to see United put six past West Ham- although a hat-trick apiece for Rooney and Berbatov would be splendid, I still think a convincing victory is required. Not only will it all but erase the memory of the points dropped at Fulham but it was also let the rest of the Premier League know that United are still capable of giving teams a good hiding. The recent hysterical drooling from certain sections of the press regarding Chelsea’s two wins over p*ss poor opposition does at least underline one fact- last season the West Londoners goal difference was tantamount to an extra point. Although after only two games it’s far too soon to start worrying about goal difference, United do not want to let it become an for advantage for Chelsea early on in the season. Teams that come to Old Trafford cautious and fearful always end up being comfortably beaten and if United can instil that fear into visiting teams early on this season in it should make the quest for a nineteenth title that little bit easier. It’s just a shame Mick McCarthy doesn’t manage all the visitors.
4. Nani you are okay (you are okay, you are okay, Nani). The penalty miss by Mr Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha no doubt cost United two points and many thought Ryan Giggs should have taken it. Fergie himself said that Giggs who scored two penalties in the game against Spurs last season was no doubt the man for the job. However while I at first was fuming with the Portuguese winger’s profligacy, once the smoke had cleared it was time for a bit of rational perspective. Nani is nothing if not supremely confident and it’s that confidence that United are going to need this season as he’s one of the real match winners the Reds have got. While missing a penalty is always disappointing, United should still have been able to hold out for a win and let’s not forget this isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened. A few seasons ago Cristiano Ronaldo missed a late penalty against West Ham who promptly scored a last minute equaliser shortly afterwards. Penalty misses happen- even Eric Cantona did it –very rarely though- and my point is Nani shouldn’t blame himself, it was a decent enough strike- although admittedly a ‘nice height for the goalkeeper’- which produced a good save. Let’s just hope that come the end of the season United fans aren’t looking at is as one of those title costing incidents.
5. The BBC is still off Fergie’s Christmas card list. One of the biggest questions before the match was whether Ferguson would finally end his six-year feud with the BBC and give a post match interview to Match of the Day. Obviously time has not healed the wound the Beeb caused on the United manager by ‘dissing’ his son so he’s still ‘not having it.’ While it all seems a little inconsequential following such an exciting and drama ridden game, it does mean the saga is set to continue with newer facets. The Premier League has declared it is going to order a review regarding the situation- no doubt Fergie’s on a plane to Venezuela as we speak.
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Read more of Justin Mottershead’s work on his blog “Name on the Trophy”
Many of us like to think of ourselves as great football managers who could do a better job than a lot of those in the world of football. This is purely down to our exploits in management games like Championship Manager. Being good in the virtual world doesn’t automatically translate to the real world though, just ask some virtual stars who fell by the wayside when it came to stepping on the pitch.
Cited as a decisive factor in over 30 divorce cases, the addictive Championship Manager (later Football Manager) series successfully managed to develop a cult status amongst football fans the world over. Aside from its groundbreaking eschewal of graphics in favour of text, the series gained infamy for its ability to predict the promising futures of top players before they became famous, having foreseen the development of the likes of Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney years before the pair gained widespread notoriety.
However, the series is equally as infamous for its ability to unearth duds. The following cult heroes are indicative of when Championship Manager has gotten it wrong, as all of these virtual sensations have found footballing success elusive…
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Click on the image below to see some of Championship Manager’s cult heroes
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Compiled by Zarif Rasul
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Players come and go from football clubs all over the world (the turnover of players at Newcastle is greater than most clubs in the Premier League!) and we fondly remember those players who have given us such great memories wearing our teams’ colours. In contrast there are also those players who didn’t live up to the expectations and hype when they signed for our clubs and it is those players that we would rather forget.
I am going to single out a selection of Newcastle United players who in some cases quite frankly may as well have not bothered turning up at all, were a huge waste of money and whose performances didn’t warrant them wearing the Newcastle shirt.
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Click on Souness below to see the Top TEN
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Since his breakout performances at this summer’s World Cup, rumours have been flying around the internet about the future of Mesut Ozil. However, the player himself has put paid to the speculation by saying he intends to remain at Werder Bremen until the end of his contract. Speaking to German tabloid Bild am Sonntag, Ozil said: “For now, my situation for the next 12 months is clear. Only the facts count and the fact is, I am under contract with Werder. I cannot know what comes after that.”
The news that Ozil is staying at Werder this season is set to disappoint potential Premier League suitors Arsenal and Manchester United who have been heavily linked with a move for the playmaker. Nevertheless, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger can both find solace in the fact that by seeing out his contract at Werder Bremen, Ozil would be available on a free transfer come the end of the season.
The decision by Ozil to snub interest from the Premier League, albeit for one season at least shows that the profile of German football is definitely on the up. Their imperious displays at the World Cup won the Germans many fans with their unique brand of high octane attacking football; a brand of football based upon the foundation of home-grown youth.
Germany has been quietly producing technically gifted and exciting young players, as evidenced by looking at the players in Joachim Low’s World Cup squad. Along with Ozil, there are number of promising young Germans who play regularly in the Bundesliga. There is Ozil’s teammate at Bremen Marko Marin who impressed alongside Ozil in the Bremen midfield last season. There is also a clutch of Bayern Munich youngsters in the German national team set-up including defender Holger Badstuber, midfielder Toni Kroos and Golden Boot winner Thomas Muller. In addition to the youth talent in the Bundesliga, many of the established international players also play in the German league showing the strength in depth that is present in Germany’s national league.
The success of Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League has similarly helped to raise the awareness of German football. Their spending power and European pedigree has allowed the Bavarian club to attract some of the biggest names in world football to the Allianz Arena. In the past few years, Bayern have brought in superstars such as Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben whose scintillating form carried Bayern into the Champions League final.
With some of Bayern’s big signings, the Bundesliga is becoming an attractive destination for both players and managers alike. Despite attracting attention from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, Danish defender Simon Kjaer chose to reject the Premier League and join German side Wolfsburg from Palermo. Indeed, Kjaer’s new boss, Steve McClaren left his post in Twente to become the new manager at the Volkswagen Arena.
Ozil’s decision to stay with Werder Bremen could prove to be a wise one. He would be guaranteed playing time which is something that neither Manchester United or Arsenal can give him. In the end, the prospect of one more season of regular football could prove to justify Ferguson and Wenger’s interest and make Ozil an even hotter prospect for the future.
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has stressed to his team the importance of continuing their good run of form, and knows that the battle to finish in the top four will be a close one.
A 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday night lifted Spurs to third in the Premier League standings, and made it eight wins out of nine games for the North London side.
Despite their excellent form, the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are also pushing to finish in the top four, and Redknapp knows the race will go down to the wire.
“When you look at the table it just shows you how tight it is going to be at the top,” he told Mirror Football.
“There is still nothing between us, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United and Man City – although City have pulled away a little bit.
“It has been a fantastic run of results for us since the start of September.
“In my opinion, any side with top-four aspirations needs to try to maintain that kind of form for the majority of the season – as much as maybe two points a game over the course of the campaign,” he stated.
Spurs take on West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday.
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