Archive for the ‘Latest News’ Category
Are Arsenal the real deal?
I’m sure most people expected Arsenal to beat Porto in the Champions League - the Portuguese side have an awful record in England after all. However, the manner of the 5-0 victory, achieved without talisman Cesc Fabregas, should force people to sit up and take notice.
Arsenal put in a sparkling performance against the 2004 European Champions, dominating pretty much from start to finish. Nicklas Bendtner will no doubt take most of the headlines with a face-saving hat-trick going some way towards making up for his horror show against Burnley at the weekend.
But credit also has to go to the two chief architects, Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin, whose probing midfield runs were instrumental in the victory and eased the pain of being without captain Fabregas.
The win caps off a satisfying few weeks for Arsene Wenger, whose side are visibly growing in confidence. Following last Saturday’s win over Burnley they will firmly believe they can take advantage of their favourable fixture list and win their first Premier league title since 2004.
After the Porto result what is stopping them going all the way in the Champions League as well?
Wenger himself has admitted he would relish the chance to avenge their heavy league defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United should they be drawn together in the next round.
Personally I feel the Champions League is a step too far. The Gunners have shown already they struggle against the top sides in the Premier league and I feel that when up against a similar side in the Europe they will fall just short. The Champions League football betting certainly suggests this will be the case.
The momentum is definitely with them in the league, however. Their win at Stoke the weekend before last was celebrated with extra vigour, not just because it was in response to Aaron Ramsey’s shocking injury but because it was seen as a rare banana skin in what is a dream of a run-in fixture list.
Local rivals Spurs and fellow fourth place chasers Man City are the only other major hiccups remaining for the Gunners and if the past few games are to go by, they shouldn’t present a problem. If this proves to be the case, then the title could be heading to Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium for the very first time.
Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Bendtner will be hoping he can hit form in time for the World Cup.
He will be representing Denmark and while the side are unlikely to be many people’s World Cup 2010 tips they could still cause an upset.
Tags: Andrey Arshavin, Banana Skin, Burnley, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League Football, Chasers, Chief Architects, European Champions, First Premier, Fixture List, Going All The Way, Gunners, Hat Trick, Horror Show, Last Saturday, Man City, Midfield, Nasri, Vigour, Wenger
English teams regain Eurovision
This might be the season that an English team finally wins the Europa League. There have been only three Premier League finalists in the UEFA Cup since English teams returned to Europe, with Liverpool’s victory in 2001 the first in the competition since Tottenham Hotspur’s in 1984.
An English champion in the first season – in the year of the 2010 Football world cup - of the Europa League would be appropriate. Spurs won the first ever UEFA Cup in 1972, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final, and whilst it might be too much to expect both Liverpool and Fulham to go all the way, both teams have a good chance of glory.
English teams have struggled in the UEFA Cup recently due to their inexperience in Europe. The so-called big four monopolise the Champions League places to such an extent that no one else gets the chance to regularly sample continental football, because the battle for fifth and sixth places in the league is so competitive.
Liverpool’s presence in the event his term has changed that. They know how to win in Europe and their Champions League pedigree, combined with a recent upturn in domestic form, makes them worthy favourites. Steven Gerrard’s improving form should help favour England’s World Cup Betting Odds too.
Fulham do not have the same European experience, but their impressive victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 32 proves they can compete at this level. No one gets an easy game at Crave Cottage, so Juventus must be on their guard in the last 16.
Everton missed out after a late collapse at Sporting Lisbon, robbing the competition of the prospect of a Merseyside derby at some stage, but the Toffees neighbours will not be bothered – Liverpool know they cannot look down on the importance of any trophy at the moment and that the Europa League is there for the taking.
Tags: Ascii, Cambria, Champions League, Div, Donetsk, English Champion, European Experience, Eurovision, Everton, Font Definitions, Font Format, Football World Cup, Footer, Fulham, Good Chance, Impressive Victory, Inexperience, Lt, Merseyside Derby, Mso, Orphan, Panose, Paper Source, Pitch, Premier League, Props, Sans Serif, Sporting Lisbon, Steven Gerrard, Style Definitions, Style Name, Style Type, Theme Font, Times New Roman, Tottenham Hotspur, Uefa Cup, Upturn, Wanderers, World Cup Betting Odds
O’Neill’s chance to emerge from the shadows
Martin O’Neill has an affinity with the League Cup. He won the competition twice with Leicester in 1997 and 2000 as well finishing runners up in 1999.
Back then the victories were the pinnacle of his achievements at the Foxes, who have been unable to reach such heights since. Fast forward to today and a win for Villa at Wembley could be the launch pad for future success.
The Villains have improved steadily under O’Neill since he took over a club that were dark horses for relegation in 2006. The previous season the club had laboured under David O’Leary. With an aging squad and fans’ morale at an all time low, changes were needed at all levels.
But with able support from new owner Randy Lerner, who took over from Doug Ellis, O’Neill refreshed the squad with young dynamic players like James Milner and Ashley Young as well as solid pros like James Collins and Richard Dunne. The club has finished in the top six in the past two seasons and are well in the hunt for a top four spot.
But the one thing to elude O’Neill is a trophy, and until he achieves that he knows his achievements in turning the club around will not be recognised when we glance back at the history books in a few years time. It is often said that a trophy can open the floodgates and clear the way for more to follow. With the support of Lerner, who has consistently backed his manager with cash, O’Neill will hope victory could signal the start of a new era at the club rather than be the peak of his Villa reign.
Standing in their way is a familiar foe in Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. Fergie’s trophy laden legacy at United would not be unduly affected by a defeat on Sunday, but with their current financial troubles prompting newspaper stories predicting their imminent demise, adding another piece of silverware to the bulging cabinet would serve as a reminder that the club is alive and kicking.
A lot will depend on the type of side Ferguson decides to pick. With his side in the midst of a Premier League title battle and a Champions League knock out tie with Milan, he may decide to pick his kids. However, even if Fergie does pick his first-teamers I fancy Villa to triumph anyway. The club have been starved of success for a long time - their last trophy was the league cup in 1996 - and the fans will be desperate for the players to make up for their disappointing performance in the 2000 FA Cup Final, where they limped to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
I feel that extra motivation will be enough to ensure it will be a Claret and Blue day at Wembley on Sunday. Although the Carling Cup betting odds make United favourites for the tournament, Villa have already taken four points off them in the league, so an upset can’t be ruled out.
Tags: Alex Ferguson, Dark Horses, David O Leary, Doug Ellis, Fergie, Financial Troubles, Foxes, History Books, Imminent Demise, James Milner, Launch Pad, Manchester United, Martin O Neill, Mids, Randy Lerner, Relegation, Richard Dunne, Silverware, Sir Alex Ferguson, Villains
Pre-Order 2010-12 England Away Kit & 10% Discount Code
The new 2010-12 England shirt is released on the 3rd March ahead of the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa and the kit is now available to pre-order on our website. England have never had a better chance of winning their second World Cup and this jersey is bound to be a huge seller.
Available on our website is the away shirt, shorts and socks in a full range of adult, junior and womens sizes and is fully customisable with the name and number of all your favourite players, including Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Theo Walcott and David Beckham, or even your own name and number combination.
As a special bonus, all customers who pre-order any of the England away shirts before the release date of 3/3/2010 will be emailed an exclusive 10% discount code for use on their next order on our full range of merchandise.
2010 England World Cup Away Shirt
2010 England away shirt - £49.99
2010 England L/S away shirt - £54.99
2010 England away shirt (Kids) - £39.99
2010 England L/S away shirt (Kids) - £44.99
2010 England Womens Away Shirt - £49.99
2010 England away shorts - £19.99
2010 England away shorts (Kids) - £19.99
2010 England away socks - £11.99
2010 England World Cup Away Hero Shirts
2010 England away (Gerrard 4) - £59.99
2010 England away (Beckham 7) - £59.99
2010 England away (Lampard 
- £59.99
2010 England away (Terry 6) - £59.99
2010 England away (Rooney 9) - £59.99
Tags: Ahead, Better Chance, Bonus, David Beckham, England Away Shirt, England Kit, England Shirt, England Shirts, England World Cup, Frank Lampard, Hero, Kids Socks, New England, Number Combination, Release Date, South Africa, Steven Gerrard, Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, World Cup Finals
January Sale Extended - Save up to 80% on Football Shirts
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Our January Sale continues with more great items added to our sale starting from only £8. We have great offers from all the leading teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Real Madrid, England, Brazil and many more. Check out the full range of special offers on our website, or take a look at a selection of our hottest new sale products - with discounts of up to 80% - below. 2010 January Sale Highlights 08-09 Arsenal Training shirt (yellow) was £26.99 now £8 09-10 Aston Villa Training shirt - was £26.99 now £14 09-10 Brazil 3/4 Pants - was £34.99 now £20 08-09 Celtic Lineup Jacket (white) - was £49.99 now £22 08-09 France Track Top - was £44.99 now £18 08-09 Juventus Tracksuit (yellow) - was £69.99 now £30 08-09 Man City home (Robinho 10) - was £49.99 now £30 08-09 Wales home socks - was £11.99 now £5 |
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Tags: Ajax, Arsenal, Aston, Athletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Brazil, Eroi, Euro Home, Football Shirts, Home Kids, Liverpool, Madrid Home, Man City, Man Utd, Mgb, Polo Shirt, Real Madrid, Socks, Special Offers, Udinese