It would be so easy to laugh at Arsenal right now. In fact, I have, in the not so distance past. Financial restrictions, injuries at the most inconvenient times and your star player wanting to leave. The truth is, it could so easily be us in Arsenal’s place right now.

A couple of important things happened in 2005.

Arsenal won their last trophy and The Glazers took full control of our club, placing a massive debt on to us. Then, in 2006, Arsenal moved from Highbury to The Emirates Stadium, which also put Financial strain on them. At the time, Manchester United and Arsenal were the two teams in the league who were battling it out for the title and the trophies, year in, year out. Chelsea had just started to find their feet after the injection of Abramovich’s cash and won the league in 2005. The difference in Manchester United’s and Arsenal’s fortune since 2005 has been like night and day. While Arsenal have not won anything, Manchester United have won 4 Premier League trophies, 3 Carling Cup trophies and 1 Champions League trophy. Arsenal have not spent much since their last trophy win (if Manchester United had spent as little, I am sure we would be struggling too) They have instead decided to give their young players a chance to shine. This is an ideology shared by both Manchester United and Arsenal.

Whether the lack of spending is down to Arsene Wenger or the Arsenal board, you have to say, it is a problem. The Glazers have taken a lot of stick since they took control of our club. Personal abuse, TV documentaries and fan protests about how they run the club, have been common place over the past couple of years. However, the way they run the club since, is the difference between us and Arsenal. Well, that, and of course, the absolute brilliance of Sir Alex Ferguson . Despite the huge debt we have, the Glazers have made sure that we have kept competitive, not only in the Premiership, but also in Europe. They have made a lot of money available to buy some of the best young players in the world. They allowed Ferguson to spend £30 million on Berbatov, while we still had Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez at the club. They have even allowed Ferguson to take risks in the transfer market, with the signing of Bebe being the biggest example of this.

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While Arsenal still boast to have the best young team in the Premiership, they have slipped behind on this front too. They have two of the best young mid-fielders in the world in Jack Wilshere and Arron Ramsay, but beyond that, and the possible emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wojciech Szczesny, you have to say that Manchester United have the better young players. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Fabio Da Silva, Anderson, Nani, Ashley Young, Danny Wellbeck and Chicharito would each walk in to the Arsenal first team, with David De Gea and Tom Cleverley probably on a par with Arsenal’s first team. The future off the pitch also looks great for Manchester United. With the sale of a relatively small percentage of the club, it looks as though the huge debt on our club, may be cleared.

This would probably mean even greater power in the transfer market for years to come. It would also mean that the Glazers would own the majority of a club, and in the end, not paid any money. In fact, they may have even made a profit. While Arsenal have fallen behind over the past few years, Chelsea, and now Manchester City, have emerged as our main rivals. While Manchester United and Arsenal both used the money gained by their success to get by, Chelsea and Manchester City are both bankrolled by their rich owners. That is why I have a little soft spot for Arsenal. If you get past the dislike for some of their players, they are a club a bit like Manchester United. Giving youth a chance and using success as a springboard for even more success is the way football should be done.

As a Manchester United fan, I miss fighting for the title with Arsenal. I would much rather have them as our main title rivals, than Chelsea or Manchester City. I find their recent demise really sad, and, although I don’t like to admit it, I really hope they turn things round.

Article courtesy of Stockport Red from the excellent Red Flag Flying High

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John Terry has admitted it is his ambition to captain England at a major tournament, as his nation are on the verge of qualifying for Euro 2012.

The Chelsea defender will lead his side out against Montenegro on Friday night in Podgorica, knowing that a draw will ensure The Three Lions’ participation in Ukraine and Poland next year.

With the centre half having missed out on leading the team at the World Cup in 2010 due to allegations about his private life, he is hoping he can skipper his nation in the upcoming European Championships.

“It is obviously my dream to take the England side into a big and major tournament,” he stated to Sky Sports News.

“Personally that is my aim, but collectively the team is the priority and whether that is a draw or a win we have to do the right thing, we are full of confidence and top of the group but we have to get over the line.

“It brings back memories of the Turkey game a few years ago when we needed a draw in Istanbul to go through to Euro 2004. The manager has got us in the right frame of mind for the game,” he stated.

England suffered a poor World Cup campaign in South Africa last year, but Terry believes the team have put the disappointment behind them.

“We have come back and taken a look at ourselves and we have come together collectively, we are very pleased with how things have gone and make sure we put ourselves in the Euros,” he concluded.

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In Rio Ferdinand’s absence either Gary Cahill or Phil Jones is likely to partner Terry in the centre of the visitors’ rearguard, and the Chelsea man’s experience will be vital in nullifying Montenegro’s able forwards Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic.

By Gareth McKnight

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Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has admitted that his side have not been happy with the results they have been picking up of late, but feels the Stamford Bridge outfit can still challenge for the Premier League title.

Andre Villas Boas’ men have been beaten in their last two domestic fixtures, and disappointingly drew 1-1 against Genk in midweek in the Champions League.

Despite the dip in form, the Czech Republic international feels his team are capable of finishing top of the pile this season.

“We have had two results that we didn’t wish, the last two results, against Arsenal and the Genk draw, but the best way to forget about this is to win games,” the stopper told Mirror Football.

“Obviously, we cannot afford to drop many more points in the Premier League, because we are already behind. There is a long way to go and everything can happen, especially in the Premier League.

“At the moment our opponents have an advantage. Obviously we have to keep working, get the wins and then see what will happen,” he stated.

The London outfit take on Blackburn at Ewood Park this weekend, but Cech has league leaders Manchester City in his sights.

“The Blackburn game could be a turning point for us, because it’s a difficult place to go. Let’s see.

“City have been doing very well, and that’s why they are where they are but there is a long way to go. We play them twice.

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“We can’t forget that, last year, we had a brilliant start and then a difficult period and then we had a brilliant finish and could have won the title,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Whilst many of us would dream of being paid to play football week-in week out for our clubs, for a number of the world’s top footballers this is not the only passion or, for some, the only career path that they have shown an interest in. We are not taling about things like playing golf, or partaking in other common sports, but genuine hobbies or interests outside of the world of sport that these footballers find the time to pursue seriously. I have compiled a selection of 10 footballers with ‘another life’, most of whom I am confident are relatively unknown to the general public, though one or two are certainly familiar.

Click on Daniel Agger to see the 10 players and their secret second lives

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QPR have sacked manager Neil Warnock, as the newly promoted side look to stop their slide down the Premier League table.

After a combative start to the campaign, the Loftus Road outfit have found the going in the English top flight difficult, and currently hold 17th place in the standings, a point above the drop-zone.

With club owner Tony Fernandes worried about the team’s chances of staying in the division, the London club have announced that they have parted company with Warnock.

“This decision has been made in the best interests of the club and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision that was made lightly,” Fernandes told the club’s official website.

“Sadly, our recent run of poor form has seen us slip alarmingly down the table and the board felt it was the right time to make a change.

“Neil has acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the club, and I would personally like to thank him for his significant contribution to QPR over the last 22 months.

“I genuinely wish him all the very best for the future and he will always be welcome back at Loftus Road,” the executive concluded.

Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce are believed to be amongst the front-runners for the vacant position.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Reports in the British press on Wednesday are linking Arsenal attacker Andrei Arshavin with a potential January move to Lazio.

The Russia international has lost confidence and form at the Emirates Stadium, and is no longer guaranteed a first-team place when everyone is fit and available.

Arshavin himself has admitted that his form over the last 12 months has not been good enough, and is eager to be at his best to represent his country at Euro 2012.

Mirror Football state that Arsene Wenger is ready to let the Eastern European leave North London for around £6 million, with the Serie A side keen to bolster their attacking options.

Arshavin’s contract is due to expire in the summer of 2013, and Arsenal have a dilemma on their hands whether to try to extend his deal or sell him before he can leave for nothing.

The Russian’s deal runs out at the same time as club captain Robin van Persie, but Wenger has admitted that Arshavin’s situation is somewhat different.

“He is a bit older than Van Persie,” the Frenchman told Mirror Football.

“Sometimes the visual impression you get from a game has been frustrating, but he is very efficient. We can all have big responsibility but we need confidence for what we do,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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(Article source – Mirror)

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‘Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.’

Everyone knows the above quote is from the mouth of the great Bill Shankly, one of the best managers to grace the game and someone with whom the self-styled Special One, Jose Mourinho draws a huge amount of comparisons to – and both of whom share a similar ‘win at all costs’ attitude to football.

On more than one occasion, both overstepped the line and went too far either during or after a game because of their intensity and desire to win – in fact, name me a top manager who hasn’t at one time or another lost control due to a game of football. Even players get in on the act; crying or getting overwrought on the field, or even getting a little bit emotional off it and showing exactly what winning does mean to them.

As  fans obviously we can understand this, as our hearts and emotions are tied so deeply to our teams that we get frustrated when we think they are making the wrong decision (think Arsenal fans with the Arshavin sub) and get emotional if a game goes the wrong way. More than one of you reading this will have been in tears at one point due to a failure in a massive competition and get elated and beyond words when a huge trophy is won – Liverpool fans in Istanbul for me take the plaudits here, yet just how much does football really matter and is it really ok to genuinely use the mantra of winning at all costs?

Of course this totally depends on how far you take the ‘at all costs part.’ If this means throwing everything including the kitchen sink at a game in order to get the goal and go all out to win – literally having nothing left at the end of the game, then of course this should be the case in every single game, not just cup finals or derby matches, but week in week out.

There is nothing a fan dislikes more than a player who cannot be bothered and is half hearted in his attempts to change a game. Likewise with a negative manager who would rather go for the draw or lose by a single goal than really go for it and risk conceding more.

However, should the ‘at all costs’ bit become more than that, then there is a problem. Even as an ardent supporter of Mourinho, I would struggle to defend his conduct at certain times, none more so than in El Clasico when poking Tito Vilanova in the eye – something that Mourinho may have done in the heat of the moment and in the desire to win, yet is still not acceptable.

A certain amount of mind games is a given, yet lines can be crossed and this is something that should not really be allowed to happen. Managers like Fergie who are renowned for their passion and will to win have often crossed the line, and at times fined accordingly.

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On occasion however, they can lose sight of the fact that football is at the end of the day just a game. A fantastic one don’t get me wrong, but just a game, and there are ways to win – and crossing the line is not necessarily one of them.

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Manchester United are well known and celebrated as the most famous team in all of

English Premier League football betting but what has not been so celebrated has been the other local EPL team, Manchester City, who are leading the EPL standings with a 2 point advantage over Manchester United.

Manchester City rather than Manchester United have been the most dominant team in English Premier League football action this season with a perfect record of 12-0 at home and a +44 goal differential based in large part on a defence that had allowed just 19 goals in 24 games. That goals allowed mark was the best in the EPL but Manchester City was also the highest scoring team in the league with 63 goals.

Sergio Aguero has been the scoring machine for Manchester City as he had a team best 15 goals to go along with 5 assists. Edin Dzeko has also been a valuable asset with 11 goals and 4 assists. Joe Hart has been the stingy heartless goalkeeper with a 0.83 goals against average and 9 shutouts. Aguero hails from Argentina and at age 23 had become one of the world’s deadliest and most feared strikers. This is his first season in the Premier League after playing for Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Manchester City are coming off a strong 3-0 win over Fulham at home that followed a surprising 0-1 loss to Everton. Perhaps the loss at Everton should not have been a surprise as Manchester City had just 1 win in their previous 13 visits to Everton. Aguero got Manchester City back on track though against Fulham as he had a goal and an assist.

Manchester United have been in good form as of late with 3 wins and a draw in their last 4 games to stay within striking distance of Manchester City. Wayne Rooney, who is often in the news for the wrong reasons, was atop the team stats with 13 goals in Premier League action. Manchester United are coming off a thrilling 3-3 draw with Chelsea as Rooney had 2 goals in the effort. Chelsea outshot Manchester United 20-16 in that contest.

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Speaking of contenders, Chelsea was in 4th place behind Tottenham with a record of 12 wins, 7 draws, and 5 losses while Tottenham had 15 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses.

The quality of play and amount of good teams has made the EPL season an excellent one with the two Manchester teams battling for the top spot.

Wolves manager Terry Connor has stated that the side’s critics should wait to the end of the season before judging the Molineux outfit.

The Midlands team dismissed Mick McCarthy after a poor run of form, installing assistant Connor for the remainder of the campaign.

With Wolves still in bottom place, four points adrift of safety, Connor has asked critics to delay their slating.

“You will have to ask the football club whether it was the right decision to get rid of Mick,” he told Sky Sports.

“That was the decision. They’ve asked me to take the job to the end of the season.

“What’s happened in the past has happened. What we are looking forward to now is eight more games and wanting to survive in the Premier League.

“Was it the right thing to do? It’s hindsight. You are looking back at something which actually hasn’t finished yet.

“We will look over the whole season, review it, and if you’ve made mistakes, learn from them, and hope you don’t make those mistakes.

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“It hasn’t finished yet. Who knows if it was the right or wrong thing to do. But the club made the decision and we all have to move on from there,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Leeds United chairman Ken Bates further infuriated home fans, and stuck the knife a little further into the back of his former manager Simon Grayson with comments made on Wednesday to Yorkshire Radio.

In his weekly “state address” to the clubs official radio station, Bates spoke about the termination of Finnish International Mika Vayraynen’s contact earlier in the week:

“ Vay-ry-en… I can never get his name right; I don’t know why we signed him” he told Ben Fry.  “Nice guy but a complete waste of money. Made two starts and cost us half a million quid in fees and salary. I just don’t know why he was signed. And I’m sorry for him but even more sorry for us.”

Although not a direct criticism of the man who signed him, the comments are another in a string of thinly veiled attacks on the players signed by Simon Grayson. In recent weeks the chairman has taken every opportunity to slate the previous management team, be it the training methods, the quality of the signings or the number of loan players at the club. Bates has commented that the squad is too large and that quality has been sacrificed for the sake of quantity.

What is most galling for the Leeds supporters to stomach is the inference that money has been wasted on players. The overall spend on transfers by United this season, has been a paltry £800K on Danny Pugh and Andy Lonergen.

Compare that to the £4M raised by the sales of Kasper Schmeichel, Max Gradel and Jonny Howson and it’s a difficult case to argue that there has been a spending spree. The fact that the three players sold were the brightest prospects at the club, one could even say that there has been a loss of focus on the playing side.

The fans see money being wasted in other areas that have no bearing on the ultimate aim of the club – to win football matches. £5M spent on refurbishing the newest stand in the ground, to provide plush corporate entertainment is the most notable expenditure at Elland Road this season. When that is added to less headline making loans to the Pavilion (the clubs conference and entertainment facility) and the clubs Media company, then one can understand the fans frustrations.

In such a tightly contested division as the Championship, the investment of even a portion of that money could possibly have seen Leeds force their way into the play-off picture. As it is they languish 28 points behind newly promoted Reading, a team they were just three points behind when Simon Grayson was sacked.

Now the team are languishing in mid-table, with the only people wasting money being the loyal fans that are paying for tickets to see the team go through the motions.

There is plenty of talk emanating from the club that signings are imminent, to enable Neil Warnock to have his squad in place early to prepare for a promotion push next season. The big questions on the lips of Leeds fans are not only who the signings may be, but if we are going to be spending money. As has been proven, new players do not necessarily bring success. They have to be quality, and to get those players the chairman is going to have to part with some cash. Promotion will require him “wasting” more than the half a million pounds squandered on Mika Vayraynen.

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