Vaughan playing catch-up to get back into Sunderland team

The 29-year-old reveals his frustrations after suffering a groin injury on the eve of the Black Cats’ tour to South Korea, which ruled him out of most of pre-season

Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan admits that he is facing an uphill task to reach the same level as his midfield rivals after recovering from a hernia operation.

The 29-year-old Welshman suffered a groin injury on the eve of the Black Cats’ first match on their pre-season tour of South Korea and returned to action for the club’s Under-21 side in a 2-2 draw against arch-rivals Newcastle on Tuesday, playing the full 90 minutes.

Despite his comeback, Vaughan believes that he is playing catch up with his team-mates after missing such a large chunk of summer training and expects a tough task to get back in the starting XI.

“Pre-season was very frustrating for me,” the former Blackpool man told the Sunderland Echo.

“I finished the season with the injury and, for one reason or another, it didn’t get sorted during the summer break. It was tough to have the operation at that time, but I’ve just got to get back into it now.

“It is tough when you miss pre-season. You come back and the rest of the players are much further ahead fitness-wise.

“You’re playing catch-up the whole time so you know it’s going to be a couple of months down the line before you’re at the same level.

“But the season is halfway through by then. Players are playing for their place during pre-season as well and putting ideas in the manager’s head. You miss that opportunity which can be frustrating.”

Vaughan scored two goals in 27 outings for the club in his maiden year at the Stadium of Light and hopes to fight his way back into the team soon.

“There’s obviously quite a few central midfielders at the club and we’ve all got different attributes. But hopefully I can get a chance and hold my place in the tea

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/21/3391763/vaughan-playing-catch-up-to-get-back-into-sunderland-team

Baines: Anichebe ready to come in and fill anybody’s boots at Everton

The 27-year-old has been impressed with the Nigerian striker’s start to the season and believes he will be an able replacement for injured forward Nikica Jelavic

Everton defender Leighton Baines has heaped praise on team-mate Victor Anichebe following his impressive start to the season.

The powerful Nigerian has netted twice in just three appearances for the Toffees this term, and Baines believes the 24-year-old is starting to show his best form for the club.

The England full-back is equally confident that the hitman will prove an able replacement for star striker Nikica Jelavic, who is currently nursing a knee injury suffered in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Monday.

“Victor’s starting to grow into the role he needs to be in at the club,” Baines told Sky Sports.

“We want to get behind him…We don’t know what the situation is with Jela, but Victor is definitely more than capable of coming in.

“There’s not a centre-half in the world who isn’t going to find him a handful when he’s playing like that [against Newcastle].

“He’s ready to take on the role if needed. He’s ready to come in and fill anybody’s boots.

“Victor’s more a beast than a man at times. He can be a great asset to us and if he gets the chances he can show what he’s done in the glimpses we’ve seen him this season.”

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/20/3391643/baines-anichebe-ready-to-come-in-and-fill-anybodys-boots-at

‘Key player’ Dzeko won’t leave Manchester City for Juventus, insists Vieira

The Premier League champions’ football development executive rubbishes rumours that the Bosnian striker is set for a move to the Serie A giants after his goal against Real Madrid

Patrick Vieira has quashed rumours of Edin Dzeko leaving Manchester City with Italian giants Juventus the latest to be linked with the striker.

The Bosnia international, who joined City from Wolfsburg in January 2011, was strongly connected with a move away from the Premier League champions in the summer but the club’s football development executive indicated that any interest shown in the forward man by the Serie A holders would be a waste of their time.

“Dzeko to Juve? For us he is a key player,” Vieira told Tuttojuve.com.

“Did you see that goal he scored against Real Madrid [on Tuesday]? I’m sorry for the Bianconeri fans but the extraordinary strikers do not move from Manchester.”

Dzeko has enjoyed a fruitful start to the season with three goals in five appearances in all competitions, with a total of 28 goals in 68 games for City since his move from Germany.

The forward’s strike against Los Blancos on Tuesday ended up being in a losing cause as the Spaniards came back to win 3-2 in the Champions League encounter.

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/20/3391427/key-player-dzeko-wont-leave-manchester-city-for-juventus-insists-

 

Allardyce: There’s more to West Ham than Andy Carroll

The 57-year-old manager has urged his squad to show they can cope after the on-loan Liverpool striker was ruled out of action until mid-October with a hamstring injury

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has called on his side to prove their strength in depth in the absence of on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

Carroll is expected to return to the side after the next international break but the Hammers are no closer to knowing when also-injured midfielder Jack Collison will make a comeback.

And Allardyce has challenged his squad to prove they can cope with injuries during the tough run of games which lie ahead.

“It depends on the likes of Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga stepping in and doing the business, making sure we use the strength of the squad when we need to,” Allardyce told Sky Sports.

“We have only got two players injured at the moment, a lot of other teams in the Premier League have more. If that continues, it will help us to be more and more consistent.

“Andy Carroll has only played 68 minutes for us. We have conceded just three goals, all at Swansea, and kept clean sheets in the other games.

“It is not all about Andy, but it is about us trying to perform as a team again on Saturday against Sunderland.”

Despite his bullishness, Allardyce did admit that the fitness of Collison is a major worry, with an ongoing knee problem preventing the midfielder from playing.

“Obviously Jack is a big concern because he has not kicked a ball for us yet since the end of last season,” Allardyce added.

“He was a major influence in our promotion year so we would love to get Jack back as quickly as we possibly can.”

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/20/3391313/allardyce-theres-more-to-west-ham-than-andy-carroll

Hodgson offers Owen England incentive to revive career

The Three Lions boss tells Stoke City’s new striker that, if he continues to play regularly and score, there is every chance of a future international recall for the 32-year-old

 

England manager Roy Hodgson has challenged Michael Owen to make a sensational return to the national side after more than four years in the wilderness.

he 32-year-old netted 40 times in 89 appearances for England but his last appearance for the Three Lions came in March 2008 against France.

After arriving at the Britannia Stadium following a struggle to find first-team football at Manchester United, Owen could yet make his way back into international contention.

“Any player, be he Michael Owen or anyone else, who is on fire, scoring goals and playing extremely well in the Premier League every week, they are going to come to our attention,” the Three Lions boss told reporters.

“We look at all players. I have chosen players so far on what I have seen in the Premier League over the last couple of years.

“I like Michael. Like all football lovers, I admire what he has done in the past.

“He’s had a wonderful career, it’s disappointing he hasn’t played as many games as he would like in the last couple of years.

“Now, hopefully, he will get the chance and we will wish him well.”

 

This also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3841/world-cup-2014/2012/09/16/3379833/hodgson-offers-owen-england-incentive-to-revive-career

 

‘Repeating last season’s Champions League triumph will be mission impossible for Chelsea’ – Souness

The former Liverpool skipper warns that the Blues will not be able to repeat their “lucky” feat from last season, especially without the influence of Didier Drogba in attack

Graeme Souness, a European Cup-winning captain for Liverpool in the 1980s, believes that Chelsea have no chance of retaining their European title if they stick with the same counterattacking tactics that they employed successfully last season.

The Blues won their first ever Champions League crown last May but the Scot reckons that that feat was the luckiest ever in the history of the competition.

“Chelsea got away with it last season and they can’t approach it the same way this time,” the former Rangers, Liverpool and Newcastle manager told reporters.

“It is impossible. Nobody in the history of football has ever had that much luck.

“Chelsea fans have enjoyed the memory of lifting the cup but they wouldn’t have enjoyed the Barcelona and Bayern Munich games while they were taking place.”

Club owner Roman Abramovich has again spent big this summer, with the £32 million signing of Eden Hazard from Lille a major signal of intent for the Blues to build on last season’s success.

However, Souness maintains that Chelsea have no chance of becoming the first team to retain the Champions League unless they play in a more positive manner – and Fernando Torres scores the goals that departed club legend Didier Drogba had previously contributed.

He added: “Roberto Di Matteo can’t plan to repeat last season. Fair play to him for playing to Chelsea’s strengths, but I have concerns for Chelsea in all competitions this season because their get-out-of-jail-card, Didier Drogba, is playing his football in China.

“Even if Drogba hasn’t been able to do it for 90 minutes in recent years, how often did he save them by popping up with the vital goal, like he did in the final?

“I am hoping Fernando Torres can step up to the mark but they are some boots to fill, Drogba was the best centre forward of his type anywhere.

“Torres is playing with a bit more confidence now, he seems to be one of those players who needs to be loved to produce his best. But will he ever get back to his Liverpool best? I’m not sure.”

Chelsea begin their defence of the biggest prize in club football when they face Italian champions Juventus at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2012/09/16/3380015/repeating-last-seasons-champions-league-triumph-will-be

‘The gaffer has been top-class’ – Walker praises Tottenham boss Villas-Boas

The young England defender leaps to the defence of his Portuguese manager, insisting that it takes time for a team to gel, while believing that Spurs will hit form very soon

England full-back Kyle Walker has come out strongly in defence of manager Andre Villas-Boas despite Tottenham‘s shaky start to the Premier League season, insisting that he is the best man for the job.

Spurs travel to Reading on Sunday seeking their first win of the season, after accumulating just two points from their first three games, but the right-back is adamant that everyone is pulling together in the right direction despite some disappointing results.

Although Villas-Boas has won just three of his last 15 games in the English top flight, Walker is certain the 34-year-old former Porto and Chelsea manager is on the right track and that the tide will soon turn.

“The gaffer has been top-class tactically and, training-wise, it’s the hardest I can ever remember in my career,” he told reporters.

“Results may not have come but it takes time to gel. Personally, I don’t feel any pressure. If you feel pressure in football, you’re not going to play your best. Once we put into practice what we are working on in training, we could go out and beat someone 6-0. I’m certain it will come good.

“I was excited when he got the job. Chelsea are Chelsea; Spurs are Spurs.

“There has been no bickering whatsoever. The gaffer before was very old school but it’s modern-day football now. It’s fast, it’s quick, the tempo is frightening.”

Walker also revealed how fellow England full-back and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole praised the managerial quality of Villas-Boas, despite his ill-fated spell at Stamford Bridge, adding: “Ashley had nothing but positive things to say about him.

“I remember playing against Ashley when the gaffer was at Chelsea. He was incredibly difficult to mark because of the way the gaffer gets his full-backs playing.

“Jose Mourinho was known as the Special One – maybe he learned from him.”

 

This also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/16/3379925/the-gaffer-has-been-top-class-walker-praises-tottenham-boss

Mancini: Manchester City will be a top team like Real Madrid in 10 years’ time

The Premier League champions’ manager responds to opposite number Jose Mourinho, who had claimed that their money could not buy history ahead of their Champions League meeting

Roberto Mancini admits that his Manchester City side are nowhere near as big or successful as Real Madrid but expects them to be on the same level in 10 years’ time.

City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu for their opening game in this year’s Champions League group stage, with the Italian hopeful that his team can put on a good display in the Spanish capital after suffering a disappointing exit in the same round last season.

Madrid boss Jose Mourinho — who once replaced Mancini at Inter — insisted ahead of the game that the Premier League champions’ money could not buy the history that his club boast.

Mancini reacted by telling reporters: “It’s clear we don’t have the history like Real Madrid but Manchester City have won some trophies.

“We want to win now. In the next 10 years we’ll be a top team like Real.”

The English title-holders have been linked with a swoop for Madrid’s Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has claimed to be “unhappy” at the Bernabeu and Mancini expects it to be tough facing the forward on Tuesday.

“If they leave Cristiano at home it’s better,” the City boss continued..

“Players like Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are difficult to mark, these are players that score every game.

“It’s difficult because at this moment Ronaldo and Messi are the best players in the world.”

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2012/09/16/3380239/mancini-manchester-city-will-be-a-top-team-like-real-madrid

‘The best talk I have ever had with a player’ – Van Gaal on Van Persie

The Manchester United striker persuaded the new Netherlands coach not to drop him from his plans, or the qualifier against Turkey, following his below-par Euro 2012 campaign

 

Robin van Persie saved his international career with Netherlands after showdown talks with manager Louis Van Gaal, following a largely disappointing Euro 2012 campaign from the then Arsenal striker, who subsequently joined  Manchester United.

Despite Van Persie’s explosive start to the season, with four goals in two starts for new club United, Van Gaal – who replaced Bert van Marwijk as national team boss in the wake of Oranje‘s Euro shambles – was set to leave his star striker out of his World Cup qualification plans in response to below-par performances in Ukraine and Poland in June.

However, a pivotal meeting with Van Persie prompted Van Gaal to make a sensational U-turn, having previously stated that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar would replace the United man in Friday’s qualifier against Turkey.

Van Persie repaid his manager’s faith with a goal, as Netherlands ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Van Gaal told reporters of the meeting: “After the summer, I had a showdown with a couple of the players who had been part of the team which failed in at Euro 2012. Van Persie was one of those players.

“I told him face-to-face that I had different plans and that I was no longer going to consider him as the No.1 striker for Holland.

“Robin’s reaction stunned me. He showed so much character. He was positive, told me he respected me and said he would give ­everything for the team and that I could rely on him any day I was going to pick him again.

“It was the best talk I have ever with a player – and I really mean that. Van Persie has asked me not to discuss the content of our heart-to-heart with the media, so I can’t tell you specifically what we talked about.

“But it really was a special meeting and I have huge respect for him as both a player and a person.”

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3841/world-cup-2014/2012/09/09/3363791/the-best-talk-i-have-ever-had-with-a-player-van-gaal-on-van

Hodgson wants more consistency from Oxlade-Chamberlain

The 19-year-old Arsenal winger looked less effective in the second half and the England boss feels he needs to maintain a more consistent level of performance in his overall play

England winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was warned by manager Roy Hodgson about his consistency after allowing an impressive first-half performance in the emphatic win against Moldova to drop significantly in the opening stages of the second half.

Chamberlain will be looking to ensure there is no repeat of that in the next game, on Tuesday, when England host Ukraine in another World Cup 2014 qualifier. That will be his first competitive match at Wembley, and ahead of it Hodgson intends to sit down with the Arsenal attacker and explain to him what he expects.

The 19-year-old had excelled down the left flank throughout the opening period at the Zimbru Stadium but his display fizzled out after the interval, something which concerned Hodgson, who told reporters: “I thought he’d been very good through that first half.

“But we’d made it clear to him we intended to take him off after 60 minutes, so I think he forgot to play in those first 15 minutes of the second half. That will be an interesting lesson for him as well.”

Prior to the Moldova game, Oxlade-Chamberlain had admitted he was still learning his trade in the national and domestic set-up, after only breaking into the Arsenal first team at the beginning of this year, and having only six caps to date for England.

“I’ve always been a relaxed person, but when I get on the pitch I rely on my ability and trust in myself,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told reporters.

“It’s nice Roy has put such faith in me so far, but I don’t consider myself an automatic regular starter yet.”

He is likely to find himself in a team shorn of John Terry and Ashley Cole; the latter is already ruled out, while a decision on Terry will be made imminently.

 

This can also be found on: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3270/england-national-team/2012/09/09/3363736/hodgson-wants-more-consistency-from-oxlade-chamberlain