Posts Tagged ‘Rio Ferdinand’
Liverpool midfielder tips England for success
With the World Cup closing in, many fans, pundits and players are having their say on who they think will win the tournament. This includes Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun who has put England down as his World Cup favourites.
The Israel international, who has played in the Premier League for West Ham and Liverpool, is of the opinion that England have always had the players to be victorious, but now they also have the ideal manager in Fabio Capello.
He says that he has England as favourites, not just because it is where he plays his football, but because “they have very good players” who are performing at their best under Capello.
This does seem to be the general opinion. If the current crop of England players are to win the World Cup, it is going to be with a manager as good as Capello. Basically, all the ingredients are there for this team to do it and the World Cup odds make them third favourites for glory.
However, this has been the case on many occasions before. England have always possessed some of the best players in the world, but have still come up short. Fans will just have to hope the Capello factor plays its part. Can he get this team performing to their best under the pressure of the world stage?
After all, you don’t get too many better central defence partnerships than John Terry and Rio Ferdinand and you don’t get too many better left backs than Ashley Cole. There aren’t too many midfielders in the world with more talent and success than Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Finally, there isn’t a striker in the world more in form than Wayne Rooney, look in any betting guide and he’ll be one of the strongest tips for top scorer this time around.
Then there are a few of the emerging players that could step up their game to help the more established players. Glen Johnson, James Milner and Jermaine Defoe have all excelled in the Premier League, but can they shine on the biggest stage of all?
England fans everywhere, as well as Benayoun for the sake of his prediction, will be hoping a bit of Italian magic can turn England’s nearly men into champions of the world.
Tags: Ashley Cole, Betting Guide, Central Defence, England Fans, England Players, Fabio Capello, Glen Johnson, Israel International, James Milner, Jermaine Defoe, John Terry, Midfielders, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Top Scorer, Wayne Rooney, West Ham, World Cup Favourites, World Cup Odds, Yossi Benayoun
Defensive woes biggest concern for Capello
The countdown to World Cup 2010 is officially on with less than 100 days left until the big kickoff.
The round of international fixtures this week gives managers the chance to assess the squad ahead of the tournament, knowing the clock is against them.
For Fabio Capello it has mainly been off-field distractions that have occupied his thoughts in recent weeks, with the John Terry, Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole scandals threatening to fracture the squad. Though I suppose it’s a change from working out how to play Gerrard and Lampard in the same team.
But with the friendly against Egypt shifting the focus away from the tabloid tales and back onto the pitch, there is no let up in problems for the Italian. Anyone thinking about a football bet would have noticed England are strong favourites for the game, but Capello faces a bigger challenge than this might suggest.
None of the ‘keepers selected, David James, Joe Hart and Rob Green, have impressed enough to make the number one spot their own. James is perhaps the front runner, but he has endured an injury plagued season at crisis club Portsmouth. West Ham stopper Green hasn’t always convinced at International level while Joe Hart, the most in-form player of the trio, is very inexperienced at this level.
In front of goal things get worse. Full backs Glenn Johnson and Ashley Cole are out with long-term injuries - Capello has already said he doesn’t want to take unfit players to South Africa so even a late recovery is no guarantee they will make the squad - while we all know why Wayne Bridge is unavailable.
In the middle things aren’t much better. Rio Ferdinand has missed large chunks of the season through injury, while Terry’s fragile mental state following his much publicised personal troubles has led to an alarming drop in form.
The three Lions have solid deputies with the likes of Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott, but it remains to be seen whether they are World Cup quality.
While Capello tries to plug the leaky defence he also needs to keep his fingers crossed that nothing happens striker Wayne Rooney. The United forward has been in the form of his life this season and his talismanic role for both his club and national side means his fitness is key to England’s World Cup ambitions. Any 2006 style metatarsal injuries and the nation will fall into a state of despair.
After all the tabloid tittle tattle in recent weeks Capello was probably glad to return to on-field matters. But given the headaches he finds there, it’s not going to offer him any more relief. The World Cup football odds make England third favourites to win the competition, but they will have their work cut out to live up to expectations.
Tags: Ashley Cole, Defensive Woes, Deputies, Fabio Capello, Football Bet, Gerrard, Joe Hart, John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Lampard, Matthew Upson, Personal Troubles, Portsmouth West, Rio Ferdinand, Tabloid Tales, Term Injuries, Three Lions, Wayne Bridge, West Ham, World Cup 2010
Pre-Order New 2009-10 Man Utd home shirt
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This week, we are now taking pre-orders for the new Manchester United home football kit for the 2009-10 season. The reigning Premier League champions have a brand new design for the new campaign, adding a black Diamond shape to the front of their shirt. We have the new kit available available in a full range of adult and junior sizes in short and long sleeves, as well as the new away shorts and football socks. Official shirt printing is available on this jersey for all your favourite Man Utd stars including Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. You can also get your own name and number printed on your jersey in official Premiership style for only £12.95. The Man Utd home shirt will be delivered from 16th July. Pre-order now to secure your stock for the release date. 2009-10 Manchester United home range 09-10 Manchester United home - £39.99 09-10 Man Utd home (Kids) - £34.99 09-10 Man Utd home (Rooney 10) - £49.99 09-10 Man Utd GK home shirt - £44.99 |
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Tags: Adult, Black Diamond, Diamond Shape, Football Kit, Football Socks, Home Football, Home Kids, League Champions, Man Utd, Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, New Man, New Manchester, Premier League, Release Date, Rio Ferdinand, Shirt Printing, Stars, Stock, Wayne Rooney