Archive for the ‘Main Content’ Category
Premier League shows England’s class through its fine stadia
When the bid team for the 2018 World Cup visited England recently, the single thing that they could not have failed to spot was the sheer brilliance, as well as considerable character, of the magnificent stadia the country has to offer.
As someone who has had the joy of visiting grounds as far south as Portsmouth and as far north as Newcastle, and many others in-between, it never fails to amaze me just how incredible the infrastructure that supports Premier League football really is. And just like we have world-class teams like Chelsea – who are Premier League favourite odds to win – we also have world-class stadia like Stamford Bridge.
With older grounds such as Old Trafford, a stadium oozing history and tradition, providing a magnificent sight for those who approach them (albeit with a terrible view and location for away fans) and newer grounds such as the Emirates providing a luxurious if subdued environment within which to watch Premier League football, there can be few countries in the world that can compare their stadiums to those of our own Premier League.
Newcastle’s return to the Premiership has added yet another fantastic arena and fans up and down the country will be aware that England’s grounds are amongst the best in the world and currently play a significant part in making football so successful here.
With this in mind, the one question that must be asked is if the Premier League sides can produce world class stadia, why on earth is the centrepiece of the 2018 bid a stadium (coincidentally the only one that has been paid for by taxpayers across the UK) which cannot provide the standard that fans expect? Surely this decision is something which confounds the football betting odds, despite how impressive the new Wembley may look.
Tags: Arsenal, Centrepiece, Chelsea, Countries In The World, England 2018, Far South, Football Betting Odds, Magnificent Sight, Manchester United, New Wembley, Newcastle, Old Trafford, One Question, Portsmouth, Premier League Football, Premiership, Sheer Brilliance, Single Thing, Stadia, Stadiums, Stamford Bridge, Taxpayers, Wembley, World Cup
Arsenalisation of the Emirates a sign of desperation?
When Arsenal decided to move away from their magnificent Highbury stadium to a new site at Ashburton Grove, many fans feared that while the club would benefit financially, the new stadium would lose a large amount of the atmosphere that had made Highbury so special.
Fans who used to sit in the famous old ground would get shivers down their spine when the old North Bank started chanting “We’re the North Bank, we’re the North Bank Highbury”, whereas the new commercial experience of the Emirates barely compares.
However, with fans and the board united in their belief that the new stadium would quickly enjoy successful nights to ensure fans would soon find a place in their heart for the new ground, fears about a lack of atmosphere were pushed aside. Now, though, with the new ground failing to deliver anything more spectacular than a few Emirates Cup victories, Arsenal officials are being forced to attempt to create a bond between the stadium and fans of the famous club.
One of these recent attempts has seen the club choose to rename the ground’s sections to match the old names given at Highbury. With the idea of the North Bank ever being recreated in a four-tiered stand joined to the rest of the stadium laughable, the Arsenal story serves as a warning to clubs as they continue to deal with the need to look to the future, with the necessity of ensuring that fans stay in touch with the club.
The Arsenal betting may suggest they’re going to challenge for the title, but the fans will still be unhappy with the ground.
With supporters of Manchester City showing a similar level of frustration with their new Eastlands stadium, the increasing commercialisation of football is continuing to increase the gap between fans and clubs.
Meanwhile, the Fulham betting suggests that the club could struggle to break the top half of the league this season
However, new manager Mark Hughes will be looking to put a long term plan in place.
Tags: Arsenal, Atmosphere, Attempts, Belief That, Betting, Commercial Experience, Commercialisation, Cup Victories, Desperation, Emirates Cup, Fears, Frustration, Fulham, Gap, Highbury Stadium, Manchester City, Mark Hughes, New Ground, Shivers, Spine
Pienaar still not tied down
In a summer where five important first team members have committed themselves to the club, David Moyes is still waiting for Steven Pienaar to follow suit. The South African international is still stalling on a new contract offer from Everton, who may let him leave for free next summer. Moyes would be justified to keep the player who only cost the club £2 million two years ago. The Everton boss has made it clear he is under no pressure from the board to sell the 28 year old.
We have not had an offer for Steven and if anyone does make an offer they will need a sack-load of cash because I am not interested in selling,” the Everton manager said. “At the moment the board are not telling me to sell Steven Pienaar either”.
The midfielder was the club’s Player of the Year last season and has said he is keen to stay at the club. He can’t be that keen if he’s turning down a reported £60,000 a week, apparently looking for a contract nearer to team-mate Mikel Arteta’s shiny new £75,000 a week deal. Tottenham would be able to offer those terms to Pienaar, more so if they reach the group stage of the Champions League. Harry Redknapp has been following the situation with Pienaar for a while and the Spurs manager is a known fan of the player.
With some making Everton betting tips to break into the top six this season, they won’t be overly excited over the prospect of one of their best players joining a rival team. If the club do keep Pienaar till the end of his contract it would at least give Moyes more time to seek out a replacement.
Everton have a much a much better chance of finishing in the European places with Pienaar in their team. The money that the Europa or even the Champions League would bring, would more than cover the loss of a transfer fee for the South African. One of Everton’s best features is their tightness as a group, Moyes won’t allow Pienaar to rock the boat on Mersyside.
Meanwhile, the Champions League betting suggests Manchester United should escape their group.
They got a relatively easy draw, while Spurs will face a much tougher task.
Tags: Arteta, Better Chance, Betting Tips, Boss, Champions League, David Moyes, Everton, Group Stage, Harry Redknapp, Manchester United, Mersyside, Midfielder, New Contract, Rival Team, Sack Load, Spurs, Steven Pienaar, Team Mate, Team Members, Tottenham
Wenger happy with Squillaci capture
Arsenal have completed the signing of Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla for an undisclosed fee. The French defender has signed a three-year deal with the Gunners and will act as a replacement for the departing William Gallas who has joined Tottenham.
Considering Squillaci is 30 years old, it goes against Arsene Wenger’s normal policy on length of contract for players of his age, so the Arsenal boss must rate him very highly.
Speaking about his new signing, Wenger said: “We needed a centre-back of quality and experience and at the right price - he was all of that.
“He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well. I believe he will be suited to the English game.”
Squillaci will look to make the same impact Thomas Vermaelen made when he joined the Emirates club. The Belgian defender made a fantastic impression, scoring goals as well as slotting effortlessly into the back four. You can follow how he does with Betsplayer.com.
Squillaci will not get the chance to show what he can do against Blackburn this weekend, but will look to make his debut at home to Bolton on 11th September.
Tags: 11th September, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bolton, Boss, Debut, Emirates, English Game, Gunners, Scoring Goals, Sevilla, Undisclosed Fee, William Gallas
Will England have another Europa League finalist?
Fulham so nearly gave last season a fairytale ending following a remarkable run to the Europa League final. Sadly for the Cottagers -and many neutrals - they lost to an impressive Atletico Madrid side but their experience did give the much maligned competition a boost in England.
Fulham won’t be in Europe this year so are unable to repeat their heroics but will this year’s representatives - Man City, Aston Villa and Liverpool - fare any better? Unfortunately I feel all three will have other things on their minds…
Liverpool
The Anfield club have made no secret of their desire to make their run in this competition a one-off, with the far more lucrative Champions League their main target this season. With this in mind you wonder how they would the approach the group games given their focus will undoubtedly be on the Premier League. They certainly have the quality to go far - they reached the semi-finals last season after an early Champions League exit - but it remains to be seen whether they have the desire to do so. They also face a tricky qualifying tie against Turkish outfit Trabzonspor and you wonder whether boss Roy Hodgson would see elimination as a blessing in disguise.
Man City
Similarly to Liverpool, City have their eyes on the Champions League this season after another summer of heavy spending. But the owners also want tangible reward for their investment so far, and that means trophies. With the quality of the squad at Eastlands this would be an ideal competition for them to win. Again it would be interesting to see how they approach the early group stages , provided they progress against Romanian minnows Politchnica Timisoara, but their desire to turn oil money into trophies may see them go far this year. The Europa League betting suggests they’ll do well.
Aston Villa
A steady if unspectacular pre-season has been plunged into crisis with the resignation of boss Martin O’Neill less than a week before the new season starts. They also face a tough qualifier with Rapid Vienna - the side who knocked them out at the same stage last year. You have to wonder where this competition would rank on a new manager’s priorities given that the league is where they will be judged, currently the football betting odds suggest they will struggle. If finances are tight at Villa Park then the pot of gold that is Champions League football will be seen as even more vital so I think this competition may be sacrificed early.
Tags: Anfield, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid, Blessing In Disguise, Eastlands, Fulham, Group Games, Group Stages, Heroics, Liverpool City, Man City, Martin O Neill, Minnows, Neutrals, Oil Money, Roy Hodgson, Tangible Reward, Target, Timisoara, Trabzonspor